Classic Audiobook Collection - The Absentee by Maria Edgeworth ~ Full Audiobook [drama]

Episode Date: February 27, 2023

The Absentee by Maria Edgeworth audiobook. Genre: drama Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Lord Clonbrony struggles with debt, while Lady Clonbrony tries to shed her Irish connections and earn status in London’s high society (known as “the ton.”) Meanwhile, their son, Lord Colambre, is wary of the entanglements of that society and escapes to the family estate in Ireland, where he discovers the abuses that have arisen in the family’s absence. Maria Edgeworth was a pioneer of realism in fiction, and one of the most successful and popular novelists of her time. She offered satirical portraits of society manners and sympathetic treatment of regional life. Her work won admiration from authors such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. “The Absentee” is named in the reference list “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” For ad-free listening try our premium subscription Chapters (Approximate) (00:00:00) Chapter 01 (00:27:58) Chapter 02 (01:06:44) Chapter 03 (01:43:32) Chapter 04 (02:19:34) Chapter 05 (03:22:48) Chapter 06 (04:11:50) Chapter 07 (04:48:14) Chapter 08 (05:13:11) Chapter 09 (05:53:08) Chapter 10 (06:23:52) Chapter 11 (06:49:21) Chapter 12 (07:22:45) Chapter 13 (08:11:38) Chapter 14 (09:11:42) Chapter 15 (09:41:47) Chapter 16 (10:35:05) Chapter 17 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

the absentee by maria edgeworth chapter i are you to be at lady clonbroni's gala next week said lady langdale to mrs dareville whilst they were waiting for their carriages in the crush-room of the opera house oh yes everybody's to be there i hear replied mrs dareville your ladyship of course why i don't know if i possibly can lady clonbrony makes it such a point with me that i believe i must look in upon her for a few minutes. They're going to a prodigious expense on this occasion. Soho tells me the reception rooms are all to be new furnished, and in the most magnificent style. At what a famous rate those clonbronies are dashing on, said Colonel Heathcock, up to anything. Who are they these clonbronies that one hears of so much of late? said her grace of Torcaster. Irish absentees, I know, but how did they support all this enormous expense?

The son will have a prodigiously fine estate when some Mr. Quinn dies, said Mrs. Darville. Yes, everybody who comes from Ireland will have a fine estate when somebody dies, said her grace. But what have they at present? Twenty thousand a year, they say, replied Mrs. Dareville. Ten thousand, I believe, cried Lady Langdale. Make it a rule, you know, to believe only have. half the world says. Ten thousand, have they?

Possibly, said her Grace. I know nothing about them, have no acquaintance among the Irish. Poor Castor knows something of Lady Clonbrony. She has fastened herself by some means upon him, but I charge him not to commit me. Positively, I could not for anybody, and much less for that sort of person, extend the circle of my acquaintance. Now that is so cruel of your grace, said Mrs. Daraville laughing, when poor Lady Clonbrony works so hard and pays so high to get into certain circles.

If you knew all she endures to look, speak, move, breathe like an English woman, you would pity her, said Lady Langdale. Yes, and you can't conceive the peens she teeks to talk of the tebles and cheers, and to thank Q, and with so much teased, to speak pure English, said Mrs. Darville. Pure Cockney, you mean, said Lady Langdale. But why does Lady Clonbrony want to pass for English, said the Duchess? Oh, because she is not quite Irish. Bread and born? Only bread, not born, said Mrs. Darville,

and she could not be five minutes in your Grace's company before she would tell you that she was hanglish born in hoxfordshire she must be a vastly amusing personage i should like to meet her if one could see and hear her in cog said the duchess and lord clonbroni what is he nothing nobody said mrs dareville one never even hears of him a tribe of daughters too i suppose no no said lady langdale daughters would be past all endurance there's a cousin though a grace nougent said mrs darrell that lady clonbrony has with her best part of her too said colonel heathcock damned fine girl never saw her look better than at the opera to-night Fine complexion, as Lady Conbrony says, when she means a high color, said Lady Langdale. Grace Nugent is not a lady's beauty, said Mrs. Darville. Has she any fortune, Colonel? Upon honor, don't know, said the Colonel.

There's a son somewhere, is not there? said Lady Langdale. Don't know, upon honor, replied the Colonel. Yes, at Cambridge. Not of age yet, said Mrs. Darville. Bless me, here is Lady Clon Brony come back. I thought she was gone half an hour ago. Mama, whispered one of Lady Langdale's daughters, leaning between her mother and Mrs. Dareville.

Who is that gentleman that passed us just now? Which way? Towards the door. There, now, Mama, you can see him. He is speaking to Lady Clonbrony, to Miss Nugent. Now Lady Clonbrony is introducing him to Miss Broadhurst. i see him now said lady langdale examining him through her glass a very gentleman-like-looking young man indeed not an irish man i am sure by his manner said her grace heathcock said lady langdale who is miss broadhurst talking to eh now really pawn honour don't know replied heathcock and yet he certainly looks like somebody one certainly should know pursued lady langd

dale though i don't recollect seeing him anywhere before really now was all the satisfaction she could gain from the insensible immovable colonel however her ladyship after sending a whisper along the line gained the desired information that the young gentleman was lord calamber son only son of lord and lady conbroni that he was just come from cambridge that he was not yet of age that he would be of age within a year, that he would then, after the death of somebody, come into possession of a fine estate by the mother's side, and therefore, Catherine, my dear, said she, turning round to the daughter who had first pointed him out, you understand we should never talk about other people's affairs. No, Mama, never. I hope to goodness Mama Lord Calamber did not hear what you and Mrs. Dareville were saying.

how could he child he was quite at the other end of the world i beg your pardon ma'am he was at my elbow close behind us but i never thought about him till i heard somebody say my lord good heavens i hope he didn't hear but for my part i said nothing cried lady langdale and for my part i said nothing but what everybody knows cried mrs dareville and for my part i am guilty only of of hearing, said the Duchess. Do pray, Colonel Heathcock, have the goodness to see what my people are about and what chance we have of getting away tonight? The Duchess of Torkaster's carriage stops the way, a joyful sound to Colonel Heathcock and to her grace, and not less agreeable at this instant, to Lady Langdale, who, the moment she was disembarrassed of the Duchess, pressed through the crowd to Lady Clonbrony,

and addressing her with smiles and complacency was charmed to have a little moment to speak to her could not sooner get through the crowd would certainly do herself the honour to be at her ladyship's gala on wednesday while lady langdale spoke she never seemed to see or think of anybody but lady clonbrony though all the time she was intent upon every motion of lord colambor and whilst she was obliged to listen with a face of sympathy to a long complaint of Lady Clonbronies about Mr. Soho's want of taste in Ottomans, she was vexed to perceive that his lordship showed no desire to be introduced to her or to her daughters, but on the contrary was standing talking to Miss Nugent. His mother, at the end of her speech, looked round for Calamber, called him twice before he heard, introduced him to Lady Langdale and to Lady Catherine and Lady Anne, and to Mrs. Darville, to all of whom he bowed with an air of proud coldness,

which gave them reason to regret that their remarks upon his mother and his family had not been made Sato Voucher. Lady Langdale's carriage stops the way. Lord Calamber made no offer of his services, notwithstanding a look from his mother. incapable of the meanness of voluntarily listening to a conversation not intended for him to hear, he had, however, been compelled by the pressure of the crowd to remain a few minutes stationary where he could not avoid hearing the remarks of the fashionable friends.

Disdaining dissimulation, he made no attempt to conceal his displeasure. Perhaps his vexation was increased by his consciousness that the there was some mixture of truth in their sarcasms. He was sensible that his mother, in some points, her manners, for instance, was oblivious to ridicule and satire. In Lady Clonbrony's address there was a mixture of constraint, affectation, and indecision unusual in a person of her birth, rank, and knowledge of the world.

A natural and unnatural manner seemed struggling in all her justixture. and in every syllable that she articulated. A naturally, free, familiar, good-natured, precipitate Irish manner had been schooled and schooled late in life into a sober, cold, still, stiff deportment, which she mistook for English. A strong hibernian accent she had with infinite difficulty changed into an English tone.

Mistaking reverse a wrong for right, she caricatured the english pronunciation and the extraordinary precision of her london phraseology betrayed her not to be a londoner as the man who strove to pass for an athenian was detected by his attic dialect not aware of her real danger lady conbrony was on the opposite side incontinual apprehension every time she opened her lips lest some treacherous a or e e some strong r some puzzling aspirate or non-asperate some unguarded note interrogative or expostulatory should betray her to be an irish woman mrs darrell had in her mimicry perhaps a little exaggerated as to the tebils and cheers but still the general likeness of the representation of lady conbroni was strong enough to strike and vex her son he had now for the first time an opportunity of judging of the estimation in which his mother and his family were held by certain leaders of the ton of whom in her letters she had spoken so much and into whose society or rather into whose parties she had been admitted he saw that the renegade cowardice with which she denied abjured and reviled her own country gained nothing but ridicule and contempt he loved his mother and whilst he endeavoured to conceal her faults and foibles as much as possible from his own heart he could not endure those who dragged them to light and ridicule the next morning the first thing that occurred to lord colambor's remembrance when he awoke was the sound of the contemptuous emphasis which had been laid on the words irish absentees

this led to recollections of his native country to comparisons of past and present scenes to future plans of life young and careless as he seemed lord Calamber was capable of serious reflection. Of naturally quick and strong capacity, ardent affections, impetuous temper, the early years of his childhood passed at his father's castle in Ireland, where, from the lowest servant to the well-dressed dependent of the family, everybody had conspired to wait upon, to fondle, to flatter, to worship this darling of their lord. Yet he was not spoiled, not rendered selfish. For in the midst of this flattery and servility, some strokes of genuine, generous affection had gone home to his little heart, and though unqualified submission had increased the natural impetuosity of his temper, and though visions of his future

grandeur had touched his infant thought, yet, fortunately, before he acquired any fixed habits of insolence or tyranny, he was carried. far away from all that were bound or willing to submit to his commands far away from all signs of hereditary grandeur plunged into one of our great public schools into a new world forced to struggle mind and body with his equals his rivals the little lord became a spirited schoolboy and in time a man fortunately for him science and literature happened to be the fashion among a set of clever young men with whom he was at Cambridge. His ambition for intellectual superiority was raised, his views were enlarged, his tastes and his manners formed. The sobriety of English good sense

mixed most advantageously with Irish vivacity. English prudence governed but did not extinguish his Irish enthusiasm. But, in fact, English and Irish, had not been invidiously contrasted in his mind he had been so long resident in england and so intimately connected with englishmen that he was not oblivious to any of the commonplace ridicule thrown upon hibernians and he had lived with men who were too well informed and liberal to misjudge or depreciate a sister country he had found from experience that however reserved the english may be in manner they are warm at heart, that, however, averse they may be from forming new acquaintance, their esteem and confidence once gained they make the most solid friends. He had formed friendships in England.

He was fully sensible of the superior comforts, refinement, and information of English society, but his own country was endeared to him by early association, and a sense of duty and patriotism attached him to Ireland. And shall I, too, be an absentee? Was a question which resulted from these reflections, a question which he was not yet prepared to answer decidedly. In the meantime, the first business of the morning was to execute a commission for a Cambridge friend.

Mr. Barrel had bought from Mr. Mordecai, a famous London coachmaker, a curricle warranted sound for which he had paid a sound price upon express condition that Mr. Mordecai, barring accidents, should be answerable for all repairs of the curacle for six months. In three, both the carriage and body were found to be good for nothing. The curacle had been returned to Mr. Mordecai. Nothing had since been heard of it, or from him, and Lord Calamber had undertaken to pay him, and it a visit and to make all proper inquiries accordingly he went to the coach-makers and obtaining no satisfaction from the underlings desired to see the head of the house he was answered that mr mordecai was not at home his lordship had never seen mr mordecai but just then he saw walking across the yard a man who looked something like a bond street coxcomb but not the least like a gentleman who

who called, in the tone of a master, for Mr. Mordecai's barouche. It appeared, and he was stepping into it when Lord Calamber took the liberty of stopping him, and pointing to the wreck of Mr. Barrow's curricle, now standing in the yard, began a statement of his friend's grievances and an appeal to common justice and conscience, which he, unknowing the nature of the man with whom he had to deal, imagined must be irresistible. Mr. Mordecai stood without moving a muscle of his dark, wooden face. Indeed, in his face there appeared to be no muscles or none which could move,

so that, though he had what are generally called handsome features, there was altogether something unnatural and shocking in his countenance. When at last his eyes turned and his lips opened, this seemed to be done by machinery and not by the will of a living creature or from the impulse of a rational soul. Lord Calamor was so much struck with this strange physiognomy that he actually forgot much he had to say of springs and wheels. But it was no matter. Whatever he had said, it would have come to the same thing, and Mordecai would have answered as he now did. sir it was my partner made that bargain not myself and i don't hold myself bound by it for he is the sleeping partner only and not empowered to act in the way of business

had mr beryl bargained with me i should have told him that he should have looked to these things before his carriage went out of our yard the indignation of lord calamber kindled at these words but in vain to all that indignation could by word or look urge against Mordecai, he replied, Maybe so, sir, the law is open to your friend, the law is open to all men who can pay for it. Lord Calamber turned in despair from the callous coachmaker and listened to one of his more compassionate-looking workmen who was reviewing the disabled curricle, and whilst he was waiting to know the sum of his friend's misfortune, a fat, jolly, false-staff-looking personage came into the yard, accosted Mordecai with a degree of familiarity, which, from a gentleman, appeared to Lord Calamber to be almost impossible.

How are you, Mordecai, my good fellow? cried he, speaking with a strong Irish accent. Who is this? whispered Lord Calamber to the foreman who was examining the curricle. Sir Terence O'Fey, sir. There must be entire new wheels. Now tell me. my tight fellow continued sir terence holding mordecai fast when in the name of all the saints good or bad in the calendar do you reckon to let us sport the suicide

mordecai forcibly drew his mouth into what he meant for a smile and answered as soon as possible sir terence sir terence in a tone of jocose wheedling expostulation and treated him to have the carriage finished out of hand ah now mordy my precious let us have it by the birthday and come and dine with us a monday at the hibernian hotel there's a rare one well you mordecai accepted the invitation and promised faithfully that the suicide should be finished by the birthday sir terence shook hands upon this promise and after telling a good story which made one of the workmen in the yard an irishman grin with delight walked off mordecai first waiting till the night was out of hearing called aloud you grinning rascal mind at your peril and don't let that their carriage be touched g-see till further orders one of mr mordecai's clerks with a huge long-feathered pen behind his ear observed that mr mordecai was right in that caution for that to the best of his comprehension sir terence ophay and his principal too were over-headed and ears in debt. Mordecai coolly answered that he was well aware of that,

but that the estate could afford to dip further, that for his part he was under no apprehension, he knew how to look sharp and to bite before he was bit, that he knew, Sir Terrence and his principal were leagued together to give the creditors the go-by,

but that, clever as they both were at that work, he trusted he was their match. will you be so good sir to finish making out this estimate for me interrupted lord colambor immediately sir sixty-nine pound four and the perch let us see mr mordecai ask him ask patty about sir terence said the foreman pointing back over his shoulder to the irish workman who was at this moment pretending to be wondrous hard at work However, when Mr. Mordecai defied him to tell him anything he did not know, Paddy, parting with an untasted bit of tobacco, began and recounted some of Sir Terence O'Fay's exploits in evading duns, replieing cattle, fighting sheriffs, bribing subs, managing cants, tricking custodies, in language so strange, and with a countenance and gestures so full of enjoyment of the jest, that whilst Mordecai stood for a moment aghast with astonishment,

Lord Calamber could not help laughing, partly at and partly with his countrymen. All the yard were in a roar of laughter, though they did not understand half of what they heard, but their risible muscles were acted upon mechanically, or maliciously, merely by the sound of the Irish brogue. Mordecai, waiting till the laugh was over, dryly observable, that the law is executed in another guess sort of way in england from what it is in ireland therefore for his part he desired nothing better than to set his wits fairly against such sharks that there was a pleasure in doing up a debtor which none but a creditor could know in a moment sir if you'll have a moment's patience sir if you please said the slow foreman to lord calamber i must go down to-and-and-a-lawed to lord calamber i must go down to the pounds once more, and then I'll let you have it.

I'll tell you what, Smithfield, continued Mr. Mordecai, coming close beside his foreman and speaking very low, but with a voice trembling with anger, for he was piqued by his foreman's doubts of his capacity to cope with Sir Terence O'Fay. I'll tell you what, Smithfield, I'll be cursed if I don't get every inch of them into my power. You know how? You are the best judge, sir, replied the foreman, but I would not undertake Sir Terrence, and the question is whether the estate will answer a lot of the debts, and whether you know them all for certain. I do, sir, I tell you. There's green, there's Blanchum, there's grey, there's Soho, naming several more, and to my knowledge, Lord Clonbrony.

stop sir cried lord colamber in a voice which made mordecai and everybody present start i am his son the devil said mordecai god bless every bone in his body then he's an irishman cried patty and there was the reason my heart warmed to him from the first minute he came into the yard though i did not know it till now what sir are you my lord calamber said said Mr. Mordecai, recovering, but not clearly recovering, his intellects. I beg pardon, but I did not know you was, Lord Calamber. I thought you told me you was the friend of Mr. Barrow. I do not see the incompatibility of the assertion, sir, replied Lord Calamber, taking from the bewildered foreman's unresisting hand the account which he had been so long furnishing. Give me leave, my lord, said Mordecai. I beg your pardon, my lord.

perhaps we can compromise that business for your friend mr beryl since he is your lordship's friend perhaps we can contrive to compromise and split the difference to compromise and split the difference mordecai thought were favorite phrases and approved hibernian modes of doing business which would conciliate this young irish nobleman and dissipate the proud tempest which had gathered and now swelled in his expressed. "'No, sir, no,' cried Lord Calamber, holding firm the paper. "'I want no favor from you. I will accept of none for my friend or for myself. "'Favour! No, my lord, I should not presume to offer, but I should wish, if you'll allow me, to do your friend justice.' Lord Calamber, recollecting that he had no right in his pride to ding away his friend's money, let Mr. Mordecai look at the account, and his impetuous temper in a few moments

recovered by good sense, he considered that, as his person was utterly unknown to Mr. Mordecai, no offense could have been intended to him, and that perhaps in what had been said of his father's debts and distress, there might be more truth than he was aware of. prudently therefore controlling his feelings and commanding himself he suffered mr mordecai to show him into a parlor to settle his friend's business in a few minutes the account was reduced to a reasonable form and in consideration of the partners having made the bargain by which mr mordecai felt himself influenced in honour though not bound in law he undertook to have the curricle made better than new again for mr beryl for twenty guineas. Then came awkward apologies to Lord Calamber, which he ill endured. Between ourselves, my lord, continued Mordecai,

but the familiarity of the phrase between ourselves, this implication of equality, Lord Calamber could not admit. He moved hastily towards the door and departed. End of chapter one. Chapter 2 of the absentee by Mariah Edgeworth. This Librefox recording is in the public domain. Full of what he had heard and impatient to obtain further information respecting the state of his father's affairs,

Lord Calamber hastened home, but his father was out, and his mother was engaged with Mr. Soho, directing, or rather being directed, how her apartments should be fitted up for her gala. As Lord Calamber entered the room, he saw his mother, Miss Nugent and Mr. Soho, standing at a large table which was covered with rolls of paper, patterns, and drawings of furniture.

Mr. Soho was speaking in a conceited dictatorial tone, asserting that there was no color in nature for that room equal to the belly of a fawn, which belly of a fawn he so pronounced that Lady Clonbrony understood it to be La Belle Uniform, and under this mistake, repeated and assented to the assertion till it was set to rights with condescending superiority

by the upholsterer. This first architectural upholsterer of the age, as he styled himself, and was universally admitted to be by all the world of fashion, then, with full powers given to him, spoke en metre. The whole face of things must be changed.

There must be new hangings, new draperies, new cornices, new candelabras, knew everything the upholsterer's eye in a fine frenzy rolling glances from ceiling to floor from floor to ceiling and as imagination bodies forth the form of things unknown the upholsterer's pencil turns to shape and gives to airy nothing a local habitation and a name of the value of a name no one could be more sensible than mr soho your le ship sees this is merely a scratch of my pencil your layship's sensible just to give you an idea of the shape the form of the thing you fill up your angles here with enconier round your walls with the turkish tent drapery a fancy of my own in apricot cloth or crimson velvet suppose or en flute in crimson satin draperies fanned enriched with gold fringes en suite intermediate spaces apollo's heads with gold rays and here ma'am you place four chancelierre with chimeras at the corners covered with blue silk and silver fringe elegantly fanciful with my statira canopy here light blue silk draperies aerial tint with silver balls, and for seats here the Saralio Ottomans, superfine scarlet,

your paws, griffin, golden, and golden tripods here with antique cranes, and oriental alabaster tables here and there, quite appropriate your layship feels. And let me reflect. For the next apartment, it strikes me, as your layship don't value expense, the Alhambra hangings, my own thought entirely now before i unroll them lady clandrony i must beg you'll not mention that shown them i give you my sacred honour not a soul has set eye upon the alhambra hangings except mrs dareville who stole a peep i refused absolutely refused the duchess of torcaster but i can't refuse your leeship so see ma'am unrolling them scaleola porphyry columns supporting the grand dome entablature silvered and decorated with imitative bronze ornaments under the entablature of valence in pelmets of puffed scarlet silk would have an unparalleled grand effect seen through the arches with the trebizond trellis paper would make a taut ensemble novel beyond example on that trebizond trellis paper i confess ladies i do pique myself.

Then, for the little room, I recommend turning it temporarily into a Chinese pagoda with this Chinese pagoda paper, with the porthlin border, and josses and jars and beakers to match, and I can venture to promise one vase of preeminent size and beauty, oh, indubitably. If your layship prefers it, you can have the Egyptian hieroglyphic paper with the Ibus border to match? The only objection is, one sees it everywhere, quite antediluvian, gone to the hotels, even.

But, to be sure, if your laiship has a fancy, at all events, I humbly recommend what her grace of Torcaster longs to patronize my moon curtains with candlelight draperies. A demi-saison elegance, this, I hit off yesterday, and, true, your laiship's quite correct,

out of the common completely. And, of course, you'd have the Sphinx candelabras and the Phoenix Arganz. Oh, nothing else lights now, ma'am. Expense? Expense of the whole? Impossible to calculate here on the spot. But nothing at all worth your ladyship's consideration. At another moment, Lord Calamber might have been amused with all this Rhodaumontade, and with the airs and voluble conceit of the orator.

but after what he had heard at Mr. Mordecai's, this whole scene struck him more with melancholy than with mirth. He was alarmed by the prospect of new and unbounded expense, provoked, almost past enduring by the jargon and impertinence of this upholsterer, mortified and vexed to the heart to see his mother the dupe, the sport of such a coxcomb. Prince of puppies, insufferable, my own. mother, Lord Calamber repeated to himself as he walked hastily up and down the room. Colamber, won't you let us have your judgment, your teased, said his mother. Excuse me, ma'am, I have no taste, no judgment in these things. He sometimes paused and looked at Mr. Soho with a strong inclination to,

but knowing that he should say too much if he said anything, he was silent, never did, to approach the council table, but continued walking up and down the room, till he heard a voice which at once arrested his attention and soothed his ire. He approached the table instantly and listened, whilst Grace Nugent said everything he wished to have said, and with all the propriety and delicacy with which he thought he could not have spoken. He leaned on the table and fixed his eyes upon her. years ago he had seen his cousin last night he had thought her handsome pleasing graceful but now he saw a new person or he saw her in a new light he marked the superior intelligence the animation the eloquence of her countenance its variety whilst alternately with arch raillery or grave humor she played off mr soho and made him magnify the ridicule till it was apparent even to Lady Clonbrony.

He observed the anxiety, lest his mother should expose her own foibles. He was touched by the respectful, earnest kindness, the soft tones of persuasion with which she addressed his mother, the care, not to presume upon her own influence, the good sense, the taste she showed, yet not displaying her superiority,

the address, temper, and patience, with which she at last accomplished her purpose and prevented Lady Clonbrony from doing anything preposterously absurd or exorbitantly extravagant. Lord Calamber was actually sorry when the business was ended, when Mr. Soho departed,

for Grace Nugent was then silent, and it was necessary to remove his eyes from that countenance on which he had gazed unobserved. Beautiful and graceful, yet so unquestful, yet so unconscious was she of her charms that the eye of admiration could rest upon her without her perceiving it she seemed so intent upon others as totally to forget herself The whole train of Lord Calamber's thoughts was so completely deranged that, although he was sensible, there was something of importance he had to say to his mother, yet when Mr. Soho's departure left him opportunity to speak,

he stood silent, unable to recollect anything but Grace Nugent. When Grace Nugent left the room, after some minutes' silence and some effort, Lord Calamber said to his mother, pray, madam, do you know anything of Sir Terence O'Fay? I, said Lady Clonbrony, drawing up her head proudly, I know he is a person I cannot endure. He is no friend of mine, I can assure you, nor any such sort of person. I thought it was impossible, cried Colamber with exultation.

I only wish your father, Colamber, could say as much, added Lady Clonbrony. lord colambor's countenance fell again and again he was silent for some time does my father dine at home ma'am i suppose not he seldom dines at home perhaps ma'am my father may have some cause to be uneasy about about said lady clandrony in a tone and with a look of curiosity which convinced her son that she knew nothing of his debts or or distresses if he had any. About what? repeated her ladyship. Here was no receding, and Lord Colamber never had recourse to artifice.

About his affairs, I was going to say, madam, but since you know nothing of any difficulties or embarrassments, I am persuaded that none exist. Nay, I can't tell you that, Colamber. There are difficulties for ready money, I confess, when I ask for it, which shall surprise me often. I know nothing of affairs. Ladies of a certain rank seldom do, you know, but considering your father's estate and the fortune I brought him, added her ladyship proudly,

I can't conceive it at all. Grace Nugent, indeed, often talks to me of embarrassments and economy, but that poor thing is very natural for her, because her fortune is not particularly large, and she has left it all, or almost all, in her uncle and guardian's hands. I know she's often distressed for odd money to lend me, and that makes her anxious. Is not Miss Nugent very much admired, ma'am, in London? Of course, in the company she is in, you know, she has every advantage, and she has a natural family air of fashion, not but what she could have got on much better if, when she first

appeared in Lennon she had taken my advice and wrote herself on her cards Miss de Nogeson, which would have taken off the prejudice against the irisism of Nugent, you know, and there is a Count de Nojong. I did not know there was any such prejudice, ma'am. There may be among a certain set, but I should think not among well-informed, well-bred people. I beg your pardon, Colamber, surely I'm that was born in england and hanglish woman bon must be well informed on this pint anyway lord calamber was respectfully silent mother resumed he i wonder that miss nugent is not married that is her own thought entirely she has refused very good offers establishments that i own i think as lady langdale says i was to blame to allow her to let

pass. But young ladies, till they are twenty, always think they can do better. Mr. Martingale of Martingale proposed for her, but she objected to him on account of he's being on the turf, and Mr. St. Albans, 7,000 pounds

a year, because, I really forget what, I believe only because she did not like him, and something about principles. Now there is Colonel Heathcock, one of the most fashionable young men you see, always with the Duchess of Torcaster and that set,

Heathcock takes a vast deal of notice of her for him, and yet I'm persuaded she would not have him tomorrow if he came to the pint, and for no reason really now that she can give me but because she says he's a coxcomb. Grace has a tincture of Irish pride, but for my part I rejoice that she is so difficult, for I don't know what I should do without her. Miss Nugent is indeed very much attached to you, mother, I am convinced,

said Lord Calamber, beginning his sentence with great enthusiasm and ending it with great sobriety. Indeed, then, she's a sweet girl, and I am very partial to her. There's the truth, cried Lady Conbrony in an undisguised Irish accent, and with her natural warm manner. But a moment afterwards her features and whole form resumed. their constrained stillness and stiffness, and in her English accent, she continued. Before you put my ideas out of my head, Calamber, I had something to say to you. Oh, I know what it was. We were talking of embarrassments, and I wished to do your father the

justice to mention to you that he has been uncommon liberal to me about this gala, and has really given me carte blanche, and I have a notion, indeed, I am. know that it is you, Calamber, I am to thank for this. Me, ma'am. Yes, did not your father give you any hint? No, ma'am, I have seen my father but for half an hour since I came to town, and in that time he said nothing to me of his affairs. But what I allude to is more your affair.

He did not speak to me of any affairs, ma'am. He spoke only of my horses. then i suppose my lord leaves it to me to open the matter to you i have the pleasure to tell you that we have in view for you and i think i may say with more than the approbation of all her family an alliance oh my dear mother you cannot be serious cried lord calamber you know i am not of years of discretion yet i shall not think of marrying these ten years at least why not nay my dear colambor don't go i beg i am serious i assure you and to convince you of it i shall tell you candidly at once all your father told me that now you've done with cambridge and are come to london he agrees with me in wishing that you should make the figure you ought to make colamber as sole heir apparent to the clonbroni estate and all that sort of thing but on the other hand living in lennon and making you the handsome allowance you ought to have, are both together more than your father can afford

without inconvenience, he tells me. I assure you, Mother, I shall be content. No, no, you must not be content, child, and you must hear me. You must live in a becoming style and make a proper appearance. I could not present you to my friends here, nor be happy, if you did not, Colamber. now the way is clear before you you have birth and title here is fortune ready-made you will have a noble estate of your own when old quind dies and you will not be any encumbrance or inconvenience to your father or anybody marrying an heiress accomplishes all this at once and the young lady is everything we could wish besides you will meet again at the gala indeed between ourselves

she is the grand object of the gala all her friends will come en masse and one should wish that they should see things in proper style you have seen the young lady in question colambor miss broadhurst don't you recollect the young lady i introduced you to last night after the opera the little plain girl covered with diamonds who was standing beside miss nugent in diamonds yes but you won't think her plain when you're you see more of her, that wears off. I thought her plain at first. I hope. I hope, said Lord Calamber, that you will not take it unkindly of me, my dear mother, if I tell you at once that I have no thoughts of marrying at present, and that I never will marry for money. Marrying an heiress is not even a new way of paying old debts. At all events, it is one to which no distress could persuade me to have recourse, and as I must, if I outlive old Mr. Quinn, have an independent fortune, there is no occasion to purchase one by marriage.

There is no distress that I know of in the case, cried Lady Conbrony, where is your imagination running, Calamber, but merely for your establishment, your independence. Establishment I want none. independence i do desire and will preserve assure my father my dear mother that i will not be an expense to him i will live within the allowance he made me at cambridge i will give up half of it i will do anything for his convenience but marry for money that i cannot do then colambor you are very disobliging said lady conbroni with an expression of disappointment and displeasure for your father said you are very disobliging said lady conbrony with an expression of disappointment and displeasure for your father said if you don't marry Miss Broadhurst, we can't live in Lennon another winter. This said, which had she been at the moment mistress of herself,

she would not have let out. Lady Conbrony abruptly quitted the room. Her son stood motionless, saying to himself, Is this my mother? How altered? The next morning he seized an opportunity of speaking to his father, whom he caught with difficulty, just when he was going out as usual for the day. Lord Calamber, with all the respect due to his father,

and with that affectionate manner by which he always knew how to soften the strength of his expressions, made nearly the same declarations of his resolution by which his mother had been so much surprised and offended. Lord Clombrony seemed more embarrassed, but not so much displeased. When Lord Calamber adverted as death, delicately as he could, to the selfishness of desiring from him the sacrifice of liberty for life, to say nothing of his affections, merely to enable his family to make a splendid figure in London,

Lord Clondroney exclaimed, That's all nonsense, cursed nonsense! That's the way we are obliged to state the thing to your mother, my dear boy, because I might talk her deaf before she would understand or listen to anything else. but for my own share i don't care a rush if london was sunk in the salt sea little dublin for my money as sir terence o'fay says who is sir terence o'fay may i ask sir why don't you know terry ah you've been so long at cambridge i forgot and did you never see terry i have seen him sir i met him yesterday at mr mordecais the coach-makers mordecais exclaimed lord clonbrony with a sudden blush which he endeavoured to hide by taking snuff he is a damned rascal that mordecai i hope you didn't believe a word he said nobody does that knows him i am glad sir that you seem to know him so well and to be upon your guard against him replied lord calamber for from what i heard of his conversation when he was not aware who i was i am convinced he would do you any injury in his power

he shall never have me in his power i promise him we shall take care of that but what did he say lord calamber repeated the substance of what mordecai had said and lord clonbroni reiterated damned rascal damned rascal i'll get out of his hands i'll have no more to do with him but as he spoke he exhibited evident symptoms of uneasiness moving continually and shifting from leg to leg like a foundered horse he could not bring himself positively to deny that he had debts and difficulties but he would by no means open the state of his affairs to his son no father is called upon to do that said he to himself none but a fool would do it lord calamber perceiving his father's embarrassment withdrew his eyes respectfully refrained from all further inquiries and simply repeated the assurance he had made to his mother that he would put his family to no additional expense and that if it was necessary he would willingly give up half his allowance not at all not at all my dear boy said his father i would rather cramp myself than that you should be cramped a thousand times over but it is all my lady clonbroni's nonsense if people would but as they ought stay in their own country live on their own estates and kill their own mutton money need never be wanting for killing their own mutton lord calambord did not see the indispensable necessity but he rejoiced to hear his father assert that people should reside in their own country i cried lord clonbroni to strengthen his assertion as he always thought it necessary to do by quoting some other person's opinion. So Sir Terrence O'Fay always says, and that's the reason your mother can't endure,

poor Terry. You don't know Terry. No, you have only seen him. But indeed, to see him is to know him, for he is the most offhand good fellow in Europe. I don't pretend to know him yet, said Lord Calamber. I am not so presumptuous as to form my opinion at first sight. Oh, curse your modesty, interrupted Lord Clonbrony. You mean you don't pretend to like him yet. But Perry will make you like him. I defy you not. I'll introduce you to him.

Him to you, I mean. Most warm-hearted, generous dog upon earth. Convivial, jovial, with wit and humor enough in his own way to split you. Split me if he has not. You need not cast down your eyes, Colamber. What's your objection? I have made none, sir, but if you urge me, i can only say that if he has all these good qualities it is to be regretted that he does not look and speak a little more like a gentleman

a gentleman he is as much a gentleman as any of your formal prigs not the exact cambridge cut maybe curse your english education twas none of my advice i suppose you mean to take after your mother in the notion that nothing can be good or genteel but what's english far from it sir i assure you i am as warm a friend to ireland as your heart could wish you will have no reason in that respect at least nor i hope in any other to curse my english education and if my gratitude and affection can avail you shall never regret the kindness and liberality with which you have i fear distressed yourself to afford me the means of becoming all that a british nobleman ought to be gad you distress me now said lord clonbrony and i didn't expect it or i wouldn't make a fool of myself this way added he ashamed of his emotion and wiffling it off you have an irish heart that i see which no education can spoil but you must like terry i'll give you time as he said to me when first he taught me to like usquibah good morning to you whilst lady clonbrony in consequence of her residence in london had become more of a fine lady lord clonbrony since he left ireland had become less of a gentleman lady clonbrony born an englishwoman disclaiming and disencumbering herself of all the irish in town had by giving splendid entertainments at an enormous expense made her way into a certain set of fashionable company but lord clonbrony who was somebody in ireland who was a great person in dublin found himself nobody in england a mere cipher in london

looked down upon by the fine people with whom his lady associated and heartily weary of them he retreated from them altogether and sought entertainment and self-complacency in society beneath him indeed both in rank and education but in which he had the satisfaction of feeling himself the first person in company of these associates the first in talents and in jovial profligacy was sir terence ophay a man of low extraction, who had been knighted by an Irish lord-leftainant in some convivial frolic. No one could tell a good story or sing a good song better than Sir Terrence. He exaggerated his native brogue and his natural propensity to blunder, caring little whether the company laughed at him or with him, provided they laughed. Live and laugh, laugh and live was his motto, and certainly he lived on laughing,

as well as many better men can contrive to live on a thousand a year. Lord Clonbrony brought Sir Terrance home with him next day to introduce him to Lord Calamber, and it happened that on this occasion Terrence appeared to peculiar disadvantage, because, like many other people, he gattwa the spirit that he avowal, in vouling to have to be of sullui that he never a-wra-a-pah. having been apprised that lord calamber was a fine scholar fresh from cambridge and being conscious of his own deficiencies of literature instead of trusting to his natural talents he summoned to his aid with no small effort

all the scraps of learning he had acquired in early days and even brought before the company all the gods and goddesses with whom he had formed an acquaintance at school though embarrassed by this unusual encumbrance of learning, he endeavoured to make all subservient to his immediate design of paying his court to Lady Clonbrony by forwarding the object she had most anxiously in view, the match between her son and Miss Broadhurst.

"'And so, Miss Nugent,' said he, not daring with all his assurance to address himself directly to Lady Clonbrony. "'And so, Miss Nugent, you are goin to have great doin so i'm told and a wonderful grand gala there's nothin in the wide world equal to bein in a good handsome crowd no later now than the last ball of the castle that was before i left dublin miss the apartments owen to the popularity of my lady lieutenant was so throng so throng that i remember very well in the doorway a lady and a very genteel woman she was too though a stranger to me saying to me sir your fingers in my ear i know it madam says i but i can't take it out till the crowd give me elbow-room but it's the gala i'm thinking of now i hear you are to have the golden venus my lady clandrony won't you sir this freezing monosyllable notwithstanding sir terence pursued his course fluently the golden venus sure miss nugent you that are so quick can't but

know, I would apostrophize Miss Bradhurst, that is, but that won't be long so, I hope. My lord Calamber, have you seen much yet of that young lady? No, sir. Then I hope you won't be long so. I hear great talk now of the Venus of Medici's and the Venus of this and that, with the Florence Venus and the Sable Venus and that other Venus that's washing of her hair, and a hundred other venuses, some good, some bad. But be that as it real, my lord, trust of that.

fool, he may, when he tells you truth, the golden Venus is the only one on earth that can stand or that will stand through all ages and temperatures, for gold rules the court, gold rules the camp, and men below, and heaven above. Heaven above, take care, Terry, do you know what you're saying? Interrupted Lord Tuan Brony. Do I, don't I? replied Terry.

Deny, if you please, my lord, that it was for a golden Pippen that the three goddesses fit, and that the hipponies was about golden apples, and did not Hercules rob a garden for golden apples, and did not the pious aeneas himself take a golden branch with him to make himself welcome to his father in hell, said Sir Terrence, winking at Lord Calamber. Why, Terry, you know more about books than I should have suspected, said Lord Clonbrony. Nor you would not have suspected me to have such a great acquaintance among the goddesses, neither, would you, my lord?

But, apropos, before we quit, of what material think ye, was that same Venus's famous girdle now that made roses and lilies so quickly appear? Why, what was it but a girdle of sterling gold, I'll engage, for gold

is the only true thing for a young man to look after in a wife? Sir Terence paused, but no applause ensued. Let them talk of cupids and darts and the mother of the loves and graces. Minerva may sing odes and dithambrics, or whatsoever her wisdomship pleases.

Let her sing, or let her say she'll never get a husband in this world or the other, without she had a good thumpin'fort, and then she'll go off like wildfire. No, no, Terry, there you're out. Minerva has too bad a character for learning to be a favorite with gentlemen, said Lord Clonbrony. Tut, don't tell me.

I'd get her off. before you could say Jack Robinson, and thank you, too, if she had fifty thousand down, or a thousand a year in land. Would you have a man so damned noiseth to Bach when house and land is a-goin? A-goan, a-go-un? Because of the encumbrance of a little learning? I never heard that Miss Broadhurst was anything of a learned lady. Miss Broadhurst, said Grace Nugent. How did you get round to Miss Broadhurst? Oh, by the way of Tipperary, said Lord Calamber. i beg your pardon my lord it was apropos to a good fortune which i hope will not be out of your way even if you went by tipperary she has besides one hundred thousand pounds in the funds a clear landed property of ten thousand pounds per annum well some people talk of morality and some of religion but give me a little snug property but my lord i have a little business to transact this morning and must not be idling and indulging myself here

so bowing to the ladies he departed really i am glad that man is gone said lady clonbrony what a relief to one's ears i am sure i wonder my lord how you can bear to carry that strange creature always about with you so vulgar as he is he diverts me said lord clonbrony while many of your correct-mannered fine ladies or gentlemen put me to sleep what signifies what accent people speak in that have nothing to say hey, Calamber? Lord Calamber, from respect to his father, did not express his opinion, but his aversion to Sir Terence O'Fay was stronger even than his mother's, though Lady Clonbrony's detestation of him

was much increased by perceiving that his coarse hints about Miss Broadhurst had operated against her favorite scheme. The next morning at breakfast, Lord Clonbrony talked of bringing Sir Terence with him that night to her gala. She absolutely grew pale with horror. Good heavens! Lady Langdale, Mrs. Dareville,

Lady Pocock, Lady Chatterton, Lady D, Lady G, His Grace of V, what would they think of him? And Miss Broadhurst to see him going about with my Lord Clonbrony? It could not be. No, her ladyship made the most solemn and desperate protestation that she would sooner give up her gala altogether. tie up the knocker say she was sick rather be sick or be dead than be obliged to have such a creature as sir terence o fay at her gala have it your own way my dear as you have everything else cried lord clonbroni taking up his hat and preparing to decamp but take notice if you won't receive him you need not expect me so a good morning to you my lady clonbrony you may find a worse friend in need yet than that same sort of you may find a worse friend in need yet than that same sort terence o'fay i trust i shall never be in need my lord replied her ladyship it would be strange indeed if i were with the fortune i brought

oh that fortune of hers cried lord clonbroni stopping both his ears as he ran out of the room shall i never hear the end of that fortune when i've seen the end of it long ago during this matrimonial dialogue grace nugent and lord colambor never once looked at each other. Grace was very diligently trying the changes that could be made in the positions of a china mouse, a cat, a dog, a cup, and a brahman on the mantelpiece. Lord Calamber as diligently reading the newspaper. Now, my dear Calamber, said Lady Clondroney, put down the paper and listen to me. Let me entreat you not to neglect Miss Broadhurst tonight, as I know that the family come here, chiefly, on your account. My dear mother, I never can neglect any deserving young lady, and particularly one of your guests, but I shall be careful not to do more than not to neglect, for I never will pretend what I do

not feel. But my dear Calamber, Miss Broadhurst, is everything you could wish, except being a beauty. Perhaps, madam, said Lord Calamber, fixing his eyes on Grace Nugent, you think that I can see no farther than a handsome face. The unconscious Grace Nugent now made a warm eulogium of Miss Broadhurst's sense and wit and independence of character. I did not know that Miss Broadhurst

was a friend of yours, Miss Nugent. She is, I assure you, a friend of mine, and as a proof I will not praise her at this moment. I will go farther still. I will promise that I never will praise her to you till you begin to praise her to me, Lord Calamber smiled and now listened, as if he wished that Grace should go on speaking, even of Miss Broadhurst. That's my sweet grace, cried Lady Conbrony.

Oh, she knows how to manage these men. Not one of them can resist her. Lord Calamber for his part did not deny the truth of this assertion. Grace, added Lady Clonbrony, make him promise to do as we would have him. no promises are dangerous things to ask or to give said grace men and notty children never make promises especially promises to be good without longing to break them the next minute well at least child persuade him i charge you to make my gala go off while that's the first thing we ought to think of now ring the bell and all heads and hands i put in requisition for the gala end of chapter two chapter three of the absentee by maria edgeworth this librivox recording is in the public domain the opening of her gala the display of her splendid reception rooms the turkish tent the alhambra the pagoda formed a proud moment to lady conbroni much did she enjoy and much too naturally notwithstanding all her efforts to be stiff and stately much too naturally did she show her enjoyment of the surprise excited in some and affected by others on their first entrance.

One young, very young lady expressed her astonishment so audibly as to attract the notice of all the bystanders. Lady Clonbrony delighted, seized both her hands, shook them, and laughed heartily. Then, as the young lady with her party passed on, her ladyship recovered herself, drew up her head, and said to the company near her, poor thing i hope i covered her little naivete properly how new she must be then with well-practiced dignity and half subdued self-complacency of aspect her ladyship went gliding about most importantly busy introducing my lady this to the sphinx candelabra and my lady that to the trebizond trellis placing some delightfully for the perspective of the alhambra establishing others quite to her satisfaction on sara'aurettomans, and honoring others with a seat under the Statera canopy. Receiving and answering compliments from successive crowds of select friends, imagining herself the mirror of fashion and the admiration of the whole world, Lady Clonbroni was,

for her hour, as happy certainly as ever woman was in similar circumstances. Her son looked at her, and wished that this happiness could last. Naturally inclined to sympathy, Lord Calamber reproached himself for not feeling as gay at this instant as the occasion required. But the festive scene, the blazing lights, the universal hubbub failed to raise his spirits. As a dead weight upon them hung the remembrance of Mordecai's denunciations, and through the midst of this eastern magnificence, this unbounded profusion, he thought he saw future, domestic misery, and ruin to those he loved best in the world.

The only object present on which his eye rested with pleasure was Grace Nugent. Beautiful in elegant and dignified simplicity, thoughtless of herself, yet with a look of thought and with an air of melancholy, which accorded exactly with his own feelings, and which he believed to arise from the same reflections that had passed in his own mind. Miss Broadhurst, Calamber, all the Broadhursts, said his mother, wakening him as she passed by to receive them as they entered. Miss Broadhurst appeared, plainly dressed, plainly even to singularity, without any diamonds or ornament.

Brought Philippa to you, my dear lady Clonbrony, this, figure rather than not bring her at all, said puffing Mrs. Broadhurst, and had all the difficulty in the world to get her out at all, and now I've promised she shall stay but half an hour, sore throat, terrible cold she took in the morning. I'll swear for her, she'd not have come for anyone but you. The young lady did not seem inclined to swear or even to say this for herself. She stood wonderfully unconcerned and passive, with an expression of humor lurking in her eyes and about the corners of her mouth. Whilst Lady Conbrony was shocked and gratified and concerned and flattered, and whilst everybody was hoping and fearing and busying themselves

about her, Miss Broadhurst, you'd better sit here. Oh, for heaven's sake, Miss Broadhurst, not there. Miss Broadhurst, if you'll take my opinion, and Miss Broadhurst, if I may advise. Grace Nugent, cried Lady Clonbrony, Miss Brothurst always listens to you. Do, my dear, persuade Miss Brothurst to take care of herself, and let us take her to the inner little pagoda, where she can be so warm and so retired, the very thing for an invalid.

Colamber, pioneer the way for us, for the crowds of men's. Lady Anne and Lady Catherine H., Lady Langdale's daughters, were at this time leaning on Miss Nugent's arm and moved along with this party to the inner pagoda. There was to be cards in one room, music in another, dancing in a third, and in this little room there were prints and chessboards, etc.

Here you will be quite to yourselves, said Lady Clonbrony. Let me establish you comfortably in this, which I call my sanctuary, my snuggery, Calamber, that little table. Miss Broadhurst, you play chess? Calamber, you'll play with Miss Broadhurst. I thank your ladyship, said Miss Broadhurst, but I know nothing of chess but the moves.

Lady Catherine, you will play, and I will look on. Miss Broadhurst drew her seat to the fire. Lady Catherine sat down to play with Lord Calamber. Lady Conbrony withdrew, again recommending Miss Broadhurst to Grace Nugent's care. After some commonplace conversation, Lady Anne H., looking at the company in the adjoining apartment, asked her sister how old Miss Somebody was who passed by. This led to reflections upon the comparative age and youthful appearance,

as some of their acquaintance, and upon the care with which mothers concealed the age of their daughters. Glances passed between Lady Catherine and Lady Anne. for my part said miss broadhurst my mother would labour that point of secrecy in vain for me for i am willing to tell my age even if my face did not tell it for me to all whom it may concern i am past three-and-twenty shall be four-and-twenty the fifth of next july three and twenty bless me i thought you were not twenty quite lady anne four-and-twenty next july impossible cried Lady Catherine. Very possible, said Miss Broadhurst, quite unconcerned. Now, Lord Calamber, would you believe it? Can you believe it? asked Lady Catherine.

Yes, he can, said Miss Broadhurst. Don't you see that he believes it as firmly as you and I do? Why should you force his lordship to pay a compliment contrary to his better judgment, or to extort a smile from him under false pretenses? I am sure he sees that you, ladies, and I trust he perceives that I do not think the worse of him for this. Lord Calamber smiled now without any false pretense,

and relieved at once from all apprehension of her joining in his mother's views, or of her expecting particular attention from him, he became at ease with Miss Broadhurst, showed a desire to converse with her, and listened eagerly to what she said. He recollected that Grace Nugent had told him, that this young lady had no common character, and, neglecting his move at chess, he looked up at Grace, as much as to say, draw her out, pray.

But Grace was too good a friend to comply with that request. She left Miss Broadhurst to unfold her own character. It's your move, my lord, said Lady Catherine. I beg your ladyship's pardon. Are not these rooms beautiful, Miss Broadhurst, said Lady Catherine. Catherine, determined, if possible, to turn the conversation into a commonplace safe channel, for she had just felt what most of Miss Broadhurst's acquaintance had in their turn felt that she had an odd way of startling people by setting their own secret little motives suddenly

before them. Are not these rooms beautiful? Beautiful, certainly. The beauty of the rooms would have answered Lady Catherine's purpose for some time, had not Lady Anne imprudently brought the conversation back again to Miss Broadhurst. "'Do you know, Miss Broadhurst?' said she, "'that if I had fifty sore-throats, I could not have refrained from my diamonds on this gala night, and such diamonds as you have. Now, really, I could not believe you to be the same person we saw blazing at the opera the other night.' Really?

could not you lady anne that is the very thing that entertains me i only wish that i could lay aside my fortune sometimes as well as my diamonds and see how few people would know me then might not i grace by the golden rule which next to practice is the best rule in the world calculate and answer that question i am persuaded said lord calamber that miss broadhurst has friends on whom the experiment would make no difference. I am convinced of it, said Miss Broadhurst, and that is what makes me tolerably happy, though I have the misfortune to be an heiress. That is the oddest speech, said Lydian. Now I should so like to be a great heiress, and to have, like you, such thousands and thousands at command.

And what can the thousands upon thousands do for me? Hearts you know, Lady Anne, are to be one only by radiant eyes. Bought hearts, your ladyship certainly would not recommend. They're such poor things, nowhere at all. Turn them which way you will you can make nothing of them. You've tried, then, have you? said Lady Catherine. To my cost. very nearly taken in by them half a dozen times,

for they are brought to me by dozens, and they are so made up for sale, and the people do so swear to you that it's real, real love, and it looks so like it, and if you stoop to examine it, you hear it pressed upon you by such elegant oaths, by all that's lovely, by all my hopes of happiness, by your own charming self.

Why, what can one do but look like a fool and believe? for these men at the time all look so like gentlemen that one cannot bring oneself flatly to tell them that they are cheats and swindlers that they are perjuring their precious souls besides to call a lover a perjured creature is to encourage him he would have a right to complain if you went back after that oh dear what a move was there cried lady catherine miss broadhurst is so entertaining to-night notwithstanding her sore throat that one can positively attend to nothing else and she talks of love and lovers too with such connoissance de fhe counts her lovers by dozens tied up in true lovers nods lovers no no did i say lovers suitors i should have said there's nothing less like a lover a true lover than a suitor as all the world knows ever since the days of penelope dozens never had a lover in my life and fear with much reason i never shall have one to my mind my lord you've given up the game cried lady catherine but you make no battle it would be so vain to combat against your ladyship said lord calamber rising and bowing politely to lady catherine but turning the next instant to converse with miss broadhurst but when i talked of liking to be an heiress said lady anne i was not thinking of lovers certainly one is not always thinking of lovers you know added lady catherine not always replied miss broadhurst well lovers out of the question on all sides what would your ladyship buy with the thousands upon thousands oh everything if i were you said lady ann rank to begin with said lady catherine

still my old objection bot rank is but a shabby thing but there is so little difference made between bot and hereditary rank in these days said lady catherine i see a great deal still said miss broadhurst so much that i would never buy a title a title without birth to be sure said lady anne would not be so well worth buying and as birth certainly is not to be bought and even birth were it to be bought i would not buy said miss broadhurst unless i could be sure to have with it all the politeness all the noble sentiments all the magnanimity in short all that should grace and dignify high birth admirable said lord calamber grace nugent smiled lord calamber will you have the goodness to put my mother in mind i must go away i am bound to obey but i am very sorry for it said his lordship are we to have any dancing to-night i wonder said lady catherine miss nugent i am afraid we have made miss broadhurst talk so much in spite of her hoarseness that lady clonbrony will be quite angry with us and here she comes my lady conbrony came to hope to beg that miss broadhurst would not think of running away but miss broadhurst could not be prevailed upon to stay lady conbroni was delighted to see that her son assisted grace nugent most carefully in shawling miss broadhurst his lordship conducted her to her carriage and his mother drew many happy auguries from the gallantry of his manner and from the young ladies having stayed three-quarters instead of half an hour a circumstance which lady catherine did not fail to remark the dancing which under various pretenses lady clonbrony had delayed till lord calamber was at liberty began immediately after miss broadhurst's departure and the dancing which under various pretenses lady clonbrony had delayed till lord calamber was at liberty began immediately after miss broadhurst's departure and the

the chalked mosaic pavement of the alhambra was in a few minutes effaced by the dancers feet how transient are all human joys especially those of vanity even on this long meditated this long desired this gala night lady conbroni found her triumph incomplete inadequate to her expectations for the first hour all had been compliment success and smiles presently came the butts and the hesitated objections and the damning with faint praise all that could be borne everybody has his taste and one person's taste is as good as another's and while she had mr soho to sight lady clonbroni thought she might be well satisfied but she could not be satisfied with colonel heathcock who dressed in black had stretched his fashionable length of limb under the stator canopy upon the snow-white swan-down couch when after having monopolized attention and being the subject of much bad wit about black swans and rare birds and swans being geese and geese being swans the colonel condescended to rise and as mrs airville said to vacate his couch that couch was no longer white the black impression of the colonel remained on the sullied snow eh now really didn't recollect i was in black was all the apology he made lady clonbroni was particularly vexed that the appearance of the stator canopy should be spoiled before the effect had been seen by lady pocock and lady chatterton and lady g lady p and the duke of v and a party of superlative fashionables who had promised to look in upon her but who late as it was had not yet arrived

they came in at last but lady clonbrony had no reason to regret for their sake the statera couch it would have been lost upon them as was everything else which she had prepared with so much pains and cost to excite their admiration they came resolute not to admire. Skilled in the art of making others unhappy, they just looked round with an air of apathy. Ah, you've had Soho. Soho has done wonders for you here. Vastly well, vastly well. Soho's very clever in his way. Others of great importance came in, full of some slight accident that had happened to themselves or their horses or their carriages, and with with privileged selfishness and grossed the attention of all within their sphere of conversation. Well, Lady Clonbrony got over all this, and got over the history of a letter about a chimney that was on fire a week ago at the Duke of V's old house in Brecknockshire.

In gratitude for the smiling patience with which she listened to him, his grace of V fixed his glass to look at the Alhambra and had just pronounced it to be well, very well, when the Dowager Lady Chatterton made a terrible discovery, a discovery that filled Lady Conbrony with astonishment and indignation, Mr. Soho had played her false. What was her mortification when the dowager assured her that these identical alhambra hangings had not only been shown by Mr. Soho to the Duchess of Torcaster, but that her grace had had the refusal of them and had, actually, rejected them, in consequence of Sir Horace Grant the great travellers objecting to some of the proportions of the pillars. Soho had engaged to make a new

set, vastly improved by Sir Horace's suggestions for her grace of Torcaster. Now, Lady Chatterton was the greatest talker extent, and she went about the rooms telling everybody of her acquaintance, and she was acquainted with everybody, how shamefully Soho had imposed upon poor Lady Clonbroni, protesting she could not forgive the man. For, said she, though the Duchess of Torcaster has been his constant customer for ages and his patroness, and all that, yet this does not excuse him, and Lady Conbronies being a stranger, and from Ireland, makes the thing worse. From Ireland, that was the unkindest cut of all, but there was no remedy. In vain, poor Lady Conbrony followed the dowager about the rooms to correct this mistake,

and to represent injustice to Mr. Soho, though he had used her so ill, that he knew she was an English woman. the dowager was deaf and no whisper could reach her ear and when lady conbroni was obliged to bawl an explanation in her ear the dowager only repeated injustice to mr soho no no he has not done you justice my dear lady conbroni and i'll expose him to everybody english woman no no no soho could not take you for an english woman all who secretly envied or ridiculed lady clonbrony enjoyed this scene the alhambra hangings which had been in one short hour before the admiration of the world were now regarded by every eye with contempt as cast hangings and every tongue was busy declaiming against mr soho everybody declared that from the first the want of proportion had struck them but that they would not mention it till others found it people usually revenge themselves for having admired too much by afterwards despising and depreciating without mercy in all great assemblies the perception of ridicule is quickly caught and quickly too revealed lady conbroni even in her own house on her gala night became an object of ridicule decently masked indeed under the appearance of condolence with her ladyship and of indignation against her

that abominable Mr. Soho. Lady Langdale, who was now, for reasons of her own, upon her good behavior, did penance, as she said, for her former imprudence by abstaining even from whispered sarcasm. She looked on with penitential gravity, said nothing herself, and endeavored to keep Mrs. Dareville in order. But that was no easy task. Mrs. Darville had no daughters, had nothing to gain from the acquaintance of my lady clonbroni and conscious that her ladyship would bear a vast deal from her presence rather than forego the honour of her sanction mrs darville without any motives of interest or good nature of sufficient power to restrain her talent and habit of ridicule free from hope or fear gave full scope to all the malice of mockery and all the insolence of fashion her slings and arrows numerous as they were and outrageous were directed against such petty objects and the mischief was so quick in its aim and its operation that felt but not seen it is scarcely possible to register the hits or to describe the nature of the wounds some hits sufficiently palpable however were recorded for the advantage of posterity

when lady clonbroni led her to look at the chinese pagoda the lady paused with her foot on the threshold as if afraid to enter this porcelain elysium as she called it fools paradise she would have said and by her hesitation and by the half-pronounced word suggested the idea none but bells without petticoats can enter here said she drawing her clothes tight round her fortunately i have but two and lady langdale has but one prevailed upon to venture in she walked on with prodigious care and trepidation affecting to be alarmed at the crowd of strange forms and monsters by which she was surrounded not a creature here that i ever saw before in nature well now i may boast i've been in a real chinese pagoda why yes everything is appropriate here i flatter myself said lady clonbroni and how good of you my dear lady conbrony in defiance of bulls and blunders to allow us a comfortable english fireplace and plenty of newcastle coal in china and a white marble no white velvet hearthrug painted with beautiful flowers oh the delicate the useful thing vexed by the emphasis on the word useful lady conbroni endeavoured to turn off the attention of the company company lady langdale your ladyship's a judge of china this vase is an unique i am told i am told interrupted mrs dareville this is the very vase in which b the nabob's father who was you know a china captain smuggled his dear little chinese wife and all her fortune out of canton positively actually put the lid on packed her up and sent her off on shipboard true true upon my veracity. I'll tell you my authority." With this story, Mrs. Darville drew all attention from

the jar to Lady Clonbrony's infinite mortification. Lady Langdale at length turned to look at a vast range of china jars. "'Ali Baba and the forty thieves!' exclaimed Mrs. Darville. "'I hope you have boiling oil already.' Lady Clonbrony was obliged to laugh, and he said. vow that Mrs. Dareville was uncommon pleasant tonight. But now, said her ladyship, let me take you on to the Turkish tent. Having with great difficulty got the malicious wit out of the pagoda and into the Turkish tent,

Lady Conbroni began to breathe more freely, for here she thought she was upon safe ground. Everything I flatter myself, said she, is correct and appropriate and quite picturesque. the company dispersed in happy groups or reposing on serralio ottomans drinking lemonade and sherbet beautiful fatima's admiring or being admired everything here quite correct appropriate and picturesque repeated mrs dareville this lady's powers as a mimic were extraordinary and she found them irresistible hitherto she had imitated lady conbroni's air and accent only behind her back, but, bolder grown, she now ventured, in spite of Lady Langdale's warning pinches,

to mimic her kind hostess before her face and to her face. Now, whenever Lady Clamborone saw anything that struck her fancy in the dress of her fashionable friends, she had a way of hanging her head aside and saying with a peculiar sentimental drawl, how pretty, how elegant, now that quite suits my teist this phrase precisely in the same accent and with the head set to the same angle of affectation mrs dareville had the assurance to address to her ladyship

apropos to something which she pretended to admire in lady clonbroni's costume a costume which excessively fashionable in each of its parts was altogether so extraordinarily unbecoming as to be fit for a print shop. The perception of this, added to the effect of Mrs. Darville's mimicry, was almost too much for Lady Langdale. She could not possibly have stood it, but for the appearance of Miss Nugent at this instant behind Lady Clonbrony. Grace gave one glance of indignation which seemed suddenly to strike Mrs. Dareville. Silence for a moment ensued, and afterwards the tone of the converseau.

conversation was changed. Salisbury, explain this to me, said a lady, drawing Mr. Salisbury aside. If you are in the secret, do explain this to me, for unless I had seen it, I could not have believed it. Nay, though I have seen it, I do not believe it. How was that daring spirit laid? By what spell? By the spell which superior minds always cast on inferior spirits.

Very fine, said the. lady laughing, but as old as the days of Leonora de Gallagai, quoted a million times. Now tell me something new and to the purpose, and better suited to modern days. Well, then, since you will not allow me to talk of superior minds in the present days, let me ask you if you have never observed that a wit, once conquered, in company by a wit of a higher order, is thenceforward in complete subjection to the conqueror, whenever and wherever they meet you would not persuade me that yonder gentle-looking girl could ever be a match for the veteran mrs dareville she may have the wit but has she the courage yes no one has more courage more civil courage where her own dignity or the interests of her friends are concerned i will tell you an instance or two to-morrow to-morrow to-night tell it me now not a safe place

the safest in the world in such a crowd as this follow my example take a glass of orget sip from time to time thus speak low looking innocent all the while straightforward or now and then up at the lamps keep on in an even tone use no names and you may tell anything well then when miss nugent first came to london lady langdale two names already did not i warn ye but how can i make myself intelligible initials can't you use or genealogy what stops you it is only lord colambor a very safe person i have a notion when the eulogium is of grace nugent lord calamber who had now performed his arduous duties as a dancer and had disembarrassed himself of all his partners came into the turkish tent just at this one moment to refresh himself, and just in time to hear Mr. Salisbury's anecdotes. Now go on. Lady Langdale, you know, sets an inordinate value upon her curtsies in public, and she used to treat Miss Nugent, as her ladyship treats many other people, sometimes noticing

and sometimes pretending not to know her, according to the company she happened to be with. one day they met in some fine company. Lady Langdale looked as if she was afraid of committing herself by a curtsy. Miss Nugent waited for a good opportunity, and when all the world was silent, leant forward, and called to Lady Langdale as if she had something to communicate of the greatest consequence, screening her whisper with her hand, as in an aside on the stage,

Lady Langdale, you may curtsy to me now, Now nobody is looking." The retort courteous, said Lord Calamber, the only retort for a woman. And her ladyship deserved it so well. But Mrs. Darville, what happened about her? Mrs. Daraville, you remember some years ago, went to Ireland with some lady lieutenant to whom she was related. There she was most hospitably received by Lord and Lady Clonbroni, went to their country house,

as intimate with lady clonbrony and with miss nugent as possible stayed at clonbrony castle for a month and yet when lady clonbroney came to london never took the least notice of her at last meeting at the house of a common friend mrs derville could not avoid recognising her ladyship but even then did it in the least civil manner and most cursory style possible oh lady clonbrony didn't know you were in england when did you come how long shall you stay in town hope before you leave england your ladyship and miss nugent will give us a day a day lady clonbrony was so astonished by this impudence of ingratitude that she hesitated how to take it but miss nugent quite coolly and with a smile answered a day certainly to you who gave us a month admirable now i comprehend perfectly why mrs darville declines insulting miss nugent's friends in her presence lord colambor said nothing but thought much how i wish my mother thought he had some of grace nudgeon's proper cried she would not then waste her fortune spirits health and life in courting such people as these he had not seen he could not have borne to have beheld the manner in which his mother had been treated by some of her guests but he observed that she now looked harassed and vexed and he was provoked and mortified by hearing her begging and beseeching some of these saucy leaders of the ton to oblige her to do her the favor to do her to do her the favor to do her the honor to stay to supper it was just ready actually announced no they would not they could not they were obliged to run away engaged to the duchess of torcaster

lord calamber what is the matter said miss nugent going up to him as he stood aloof and indignant don't look so like a chafed lion others may perhaps read your countenance as well as i do none can read my mind so well as i do none can read my mind so well replied he oh my dear grace supper supper cried she your duty to your neighbor your hand to your partner lady catherine as they went downstairs to supper observed that miss nugent had not been dancing that she had kept quite in the background all night quite in the shade those said lord calamber who are contented in the shade are the best able to bear the light and i am not surprised that one so interesting in the background should not desire to be the foremost figure in a piece the supper-room fitted up at great expense with scenery to imitate voxal opened into a superb greenhouse lighted with coloured lamps a band of music at a distance every delicacy every luxury and luxury that could gratify the senses appeared in profusion. The company ate and drank, enjoyed themselves, went away, and laughed at their hostess. Some, indeed, who thought they had been neglected,

were in too bad humor to laugh, but abused her in sober earnest, for Lady Conbrony had offended half, nay, three-quarters of her guests, by what they termed her exclusive attention to those very leaders of the taunt, from whom she had suffered so much and who had made it obvious to all that they thought they did her too much honour in appearing at her gala so ended the gala for which she had lavished such sums for which she had laboured so indefatigably and from which she had expected such triumph colamber bid the musicians stop they're playing to empty benches said lady clonbrony

grace my dear will you see that these lamps are safely put out i am so tired so worn out i must go to bed and i am sure i have caught cold too what a nervous business it is to manage these things i wonder how one gets through it or why one does it end of chapter three chapter four of the absentee by maria edgeworth this librivox recording is in the public domain. Lady Conbrony was taken ill the day after her gala. She had caught cold by standing, when much overheated, in a violent draught of wind, paying her parting compliments to the Duke of V, who thought her abhor, and wished her in heaven all the while for keeping his horses standing. Her ladyship's illness was severe and long. She was confined to her room for some weeks by a rheumatic fever and an inflammation in her eyes. Every day when Lord Calamber went to see his mother, he found Miss Nugent in her apartment,

and every hour he found fresh reason to admire this charming girl. The affectionate tenderness, the indefatigable patience, the strong attachment she showed for her aunt, actually raised Lady Clonbroni in her son's opinion. He was persuaded she must surely have some good or great qualities, or she should be could not have excited such strong affection. A few foibles out of the question, such as her love of fine people, her affectation of being English, and other affectations too tedious to mention, Lady Clonbrony was really a good woman, had good principles, moral and religious, and selfishness not immediately interfering,

she was good-natured, and though her soul and attention were so completely absorbed in the duties of acquaintanceship that she did not know it, she really had affections. They were concentrated upon a few near relations. She was extremely fond and extremely proud of her son. Next to her son, she was fonder of her niece than of any other creature. She had received Grace Nugent into her family when she was left an orphan and deserted by some of her other relations. She had bred her up and had treated her with constant kindness. This kindness and these obligations had raised the warmest gratitude

in Miss Nugent's heart, and it was the strong principle of gratitude, which rendered her capable of endurance and exertion seemingly far above her strength. This young lady was not of a robust appearance, though she now underwent extraordinary fatigue. Her aunt could scarcely bear that she should leave her for a moment.

She could not close her eyes, unless grace sat up with her many hours every night night after night she bore this fatigue and yet with little sleep or rest she preserved her health at least supported her spirits and every morning when lord calamber came into his mother's room he saw miss nugent look as blooming as if she had enjoyed the most refreshing sleep the bloom was as he observed not permanent it came and went with every emotion of her feet healing heart, and he soon learned to fancy her almost as handsome when she was pale as when she had a color. He had thought her beautiful when he beheld her in all the radiance of light, and with all the advantages of dress at the gala, but he found her infinitely more lovely and interesting now when he saw her in a sick room, a half-darkened chamber, where often he could but just discern her form or distinguish her, except by her graceful motion. as she passed, or when, but for a moment, a window-curtain drawn aside let the sun shine

upon her face or on the unadorned ringlets of her hair. Much must be allowed for an inflammation in the eyes and something for a rheumatic fever, yet it may seem strange that Lady Clonbrone should be so blind and deaf as neither to see nor hear all this time, that having lived so long in the world, it should never occur to her that it was rather imprudent to have a young lady, not eighteen, nursing her, and such a young lady, when her son, not one and twenty, and such a son, came to visit her daily. But so it was. Lady Clonbrony knew nothing of love. She had read of it, indeed, in novels which sometimes for fashion's sake she had looked at, and over which she had been obliged to doze.

But this was only love in books, love in real life she had never met with. In the life she led, how should she? She had heard of its making young people and old people even do foolish things, but those were foolish people, and if they were worse than foolish, why it was shocking, and nobody visited them. But Lady Conbrony had not, for her own part, the slightest notion how people could be brought to this pass, nor how anybody out of Bedlam could prefer to a good house, a decent equipage, and a proper establishment, what is called love in a cottage. As to Calamber, she had too good an opinion of his understanding, to say nothing of his duty to his family, his pride, his rank, and his being her son, to let such an idea across her imagination.

As to her niece, in the first place, she was her niece and first cousins should never marry because they form no new connections to strengthen the family interest or raise its consequence. This doctrine her ladyship had repeated for years so often and so dogmatically that she conceived it to be incontrovertible and of as full force as any law of the land or as any moral or religious obligation. She would as soon have suspected her niece of an intention of stealing her diamond necklace as of purloining Colamber's heart

or marrying this heir of the house of Clonbroni. Miss Nugent was so well apprised and so thoroughly convinced of all this that she never, for one moment, allowed herself to think of Lord Calamber as a lover. Duty, honour, and gratitude. Gratitude, the strong, feeling and principle of her mind forbade it. She had so prepared and habituated herself to consider

him as a person with whom she could not possibly be united, that, with perfect ease and simplicity, she behaved towards him exactly as if he was her brother, not in the equivocating sentimental romance style, in which ladies talk of treating men as their brothers whom they are all the time secretly thinking of and endeavoring to please as lovers. Not using this phrase as a convenient pretense, a safe mode of securing herself from suspicion or scandal, and of enjoying the advantages of confidence and the intimacy of friendship till the propitious moment

when it should be time to declare or avow the secret of the heart. No, this young lady was quite above all double-dealing. she had no mental reservation, no metaphysical subtleties, but with plain, unsophisticated morality, in good faith and simple truth, acted as she professed, thought what she said, and was that which she seemed to be. As soon as Lady Conbrony was able to see anybody, her niece sent to Mrs. Broadhurst, who was very intimate with the family.

She used to come frequently, almost every evening, to sit with the invalid. Miss Broadhurst accompanied her mother, for she did not like to go out with any other chaperon. It was disagreeable to spend her time alone at home, and most agreeable to spend it with her friend Miss Nugent. In this, she had no design, no cockatry. Miss Broadhurst had too lofty and independent a spirit

to stoop to coquetry. She thought that, in their interview at the gala, she understood Lord Calamber, and that he understood her, that he was not inclined to court her for her fortune, that she would not be content with any suitor who was not a lover. She was two or three years older than Lord Calamber, perfectly aware of her want of beauty, yet with a just sense of her own merit

and of what was becoming and due to the dignity of her sex. This, she trusted, was visible in her own. manners, and established in Lord Calamber's mind, so that she ran no risk of being misunderstood by him, and as to what the rest of the world thought, she was so well used to hear weekly and daily reports of her going to be married to fifty different people, that she cared little for what was said on this subject. Indeed, conscious of rectitude and with an utter contempt for mean and commonplace gossiping, she was, for a woman and a young woman, rather too disdainful of the opinion of the world.

Mrs. Broadhurst, though her daughter had fully explained herself respecting Lord Calamber, before she began this course of visiting, yet rejoiced that even on this footing there should be constant intercourse between them. It was Mrs. Broadhurst's warmest wish that her daughter should obtain rank and connect herself with an ancient family. She was sensible that the young ladies being older than the gentleman might be an obstacle, and very sorry she was to find that her daughter had so imprudently, so unnecessarily, declared her age, but still this little obstacle might be overcome. Much greater difficulties in the marriage of inferior heiresses were every day got over and thought nothing of. Then, as to the young lady's own

sentiments, her mother knew them better than she did herself. She understood her daughter's pride, that she dreaded to be made an object of bargain and sale. But Mrs. Broadhurst, who, with all her coarseness of mind, had rather a better notion of love matters than Lady Clonbrony, perceived, through her daughter's horror of being offered to Lord Calamber, through her anxiety that nothing approaching to an advance on the part of her family should be made, that if Lord Colamber should himself advance, he would stand a better chance of being accepted than any other of the numerous persons who had yet aspired to the favor of this heiress. The very circumstance of his having paid no court to her at first operated in his favor,

for it proved that he was not mercenary, and that whatever attention he might afterwards show, she must be sure would be sincere and disinterested. And now, let them but see one another in this easy, intimate kind of way, and you will find, my dear Lady Clonbrony, things will go on of their own accord all the better for our minding our cards and never minding anything else. I remember when I was young—but let that pass—let the young people see one another, and manage their own affairs, their own. way. Let them be together. That's all I say. Ask half the men you are acquainted with why they

married, and their answer, if they speak truth, will be, because I met Miss such a one at such a place, and we were continually together. Propinquity, propinquity, as my father used to say, and he was married five times, and twice to heiresses. In consequence of this plan of leaving things to themselves, every evening Lady Clonbrony made out her own little card-table with Mrs. Broadhurst and Mr. and Miss Pratt, a brother and sister, who were the most obliging, convenient neighbors imaginable. From time to time, as Lady Clonbrony gathered up her cards,

she would direct an inquiring glance to the group of young people at the other table, whilst the more prudent Mrs. Broadhurst sat plump with her back to them, pursing up her lips and contracting her brows in token of deep calculation, looking down impenetrable at her cards, never even noticing Lady Clonbrony's glances, but inquiring from her partner how many they were by honors. The young party generally consisted of Miss Broadhurst, Lord Calamber, Miss Nugent, and her admirer Mr. Salisbury.

Mr. Salisbury was a middle-aged gentleman, very agreeable and well-informed. He had traveled, had seen a great deal of the world, had lived in the best company, had acquired what is called good pact, was full of anecdote, not mere gossiping anecdotes that lead to nothing, but anecdotes characteristic of national manners,

of human nature in general, or of those illustrious individuals who excite public curiosity and interest. Miss Nugent had seen him always in large companies, where he was admired for his Savoir Vre and for his entertaining anecdotes, but where he had no opportunity of producing any of the higher powers of his understanding or showing character. She found that Mr. Salisbury appeared to her quite a different person when conversing with Lord Calamber. lord calamber with that ardent thirst for knowledge which it is always agreeable to gratify had an air of openness and generosity a frankness a warmth of manner which with good breeding but with something beyond it and superior to its established forms irresistibly won the confidence and attracted the affection of those with whom he conversed his manners were peculiarly agreeable to a person like mr salisbury tired of the sameness and egotism of men of the world

miss nugent had seldom till now had the advantage of hearing much conversation on literary subjects in the life she had been compelled to lead she had acquired accomplishments had exercised her understanding of her understanding of her upon everything that passed before her, and from circumstances had formed her judgment and her taste by observations on real life. But the ample page of knowledge had never been unrolled to her eyes. She had never had opportunities of acquiring literature herself, but she admired it in others, particularly in her friend Miss Broadhurst. Miss Brothurst had received all the advantages of education which money could procure, and had profited by them in a manner uncommon among those for whom they are purchased in such abundance. She not only had had many masters and read many books, but had thought of what she read, and had supplied by the strength and energy of her own mind what cannot be acquired by the assistance of masters. Miss Nugent, perhaps overvaluing the information that she did not possess and free from all idea of envy,

looked up to her friend as to a superior being, with a sort of enthusiastic admiration, and now, with charmed attention, listened by turns to her, to Mr. Salisbury, and to Lord Calamber, whilst they conversed on literary subjects. listen with a countenance so full of intelligence, of animation so expressive of every good and kind affection, that the gentleman did not always know what they were saying. Pray go on, said she once to Mr. Salisbury. You stop perhaps from politeness to me, from compassion to my ignorance, but though I am ignorant you do not tire me, I assure you.

Did you ever condescend to read the Arabian tales? Like him whose eyes were touched by the magical application from the Dervis, I am enabled at once to see the riches of a new world. Oh, how unlike, how superior to that in which I have lived, the great world as it is called. Lord Calamber brought down a beautiful edition of the Arabian Tales, looked for the story to which Miss Nugent had alluded, and showed it to Miss Broadhurst, who was also searching for, it in another volume. Lady Clonbrony, from her card-table, saw the young people thus engaged.

I profess not to understand these things so well as you say you do, my dear Mrs. Broadhurst, whispered she, but look there now. They are at their books. What do you expect can come of that sort of thing? So ill-bred and downright rude of Calamber, I must give him a hint. No, no, for mercy's sake, my dear Lady Clon-Buron-Bur. no hints no hints no remarks what would you have she reading and my lord at the back of her chair leaning over and a loud mind to lean over to read the same thing can't be better never saw any man yet allowed to come so near her now lady clonbrony not a word not a look i beseech well well but if they had a little music my daughter's tired of music how much do i owe your ladyship now three rubbers i think now though you would not believe it of a young girl continued mrs broadhurst i can assure your ladyship my daughter would often rather go to a book than a ball well now that's very extraordinary in the style in which she has been brought up yet books and all that are so fashionable now that it's very natural said lady clonbrony

about this time mr beryl lord calamber's cambridge friend for whom his lordship had fought the battle of the curricle with mordecai came to town lord calamber introduced him to his mother by whom he was graciously received for mr beryl was a young gentleman of good figure good address good family heir to a good fortune and in every respect a fit match for miss nugent lady conbroni thought that it would be wise to secure huge for her niece, before he should make his appearance in the London world, where mothers and daughters would soon make him feel his own consequence. Mr. Beryl, as Lord Calamber's intimate friend, was admitted to the private evening parties at Lady Clonbronies, and he contributed to render them still more agreeable. His information, his habits of thinking, and his views were all totally different for Mr. Salisbury's, their collision continually struck out that sparkling novelty which pleases peculiarly in conversation.

Mr. Beryl's education, disposition, and tastes fitted him exactly for the station which he was destined to fill in society, that of a country gentleman, not meaning by that expression a mere eating, drinking, hunting, shooting, ignorant country squire of the old race, which is now nearly extinct, but a cultivated, enlightened, independent English country gentleman, the happiest, perhaps, of human beings. On the comparative felicity of the town and country life, on the dignity, utility, elegance, and interesting nature of their different occupations and general scheme of passing their time, Mr. Barrel and Mr. Salisbury had one evening a playful, entertaining, and

perhaps instructive conversation. each party, at the end, remaining, as frequently happens, of their own opinion. It was observed that Miss Broadhurst, ably and warmly defended Mr. Barrow's side of the question, and in their views, plans, and estimates of life, there appeared a remarkable, and, as Lord Calamber thought, a happy coincidence. When she was at last called upon to give her decisive judgment between a town and a country life, she declared that if she were condemned to the extremes of either she should prefer a country life as much as she should prefer robinson crusoe's diary to the journal of the idle man in the spectator lord bless me mrs broadhurst do you hear what your daughter is saying cried lady clonbroni who from the card-table lent an attentive ear to all that was going forward is it possible that miss broadhurst with her fortune and pretensions and

sense can really be serious in saying she would be content to live in the country? What's that you say, child, about living in the country? said Mrs. Broadhurst. Miss Broadhurst repeated what she had said. Girls always think so who have lived in town, said Mrs. Broadhurst. They are always dreaming of sheep and sheep hooks, but the first winter in the country cures them. A shepherdess in winter is a sad. and sorry sort of personage except at a masquerade. Colamber, said Lady Conbrony,

I am sure Miss Broadhurst's sentiments about town life and all that must delight you, for do you know, ma'am, he is always trying to persuade me to give up living in town. Colamber and Miss Broadhurst perfectly agree. Mind your cards, my dear Lady Conbrony, interrupted Mrs. Broadhurst, in pity to your partner. Mr. Pratt has certainly the patience of Job. Your ladyship has revoked twice this hand. Lady Clonbrony begged a thousand pardons,

fixed her eyes and endeavored to fix her mind on the cards. But there was something said at the other end of the room about an estate in Cambridgeshire, which soon distracted her attention again. Mr. Pratt certainly had the patience of Job. She revoked and lost the game. game, though they had four by honors. As soon as she rose from the card-table and could speak to Mrs. Broadhurst apart,

she communicated her apprehensions. "'Seriously, my dear madam,' said she, "'I believe I have done very wrong to admit Mr. Barrel just now, though it was on Grace's account. I did it. But, ma'am, I did not know Miss Broadhurst had an estate in Cambridgeshire. There are two estates just close to one another, I heard them say. Lord bless me, ma'am. there's the danger of propinquity indeed.

No danger, no danger, persisted Mrs. Broadhurst. I know my girl better than you do, making your ladyship's pardon. No one thinks less of estates than she does. Well, I only know I heard her talking of them, and earnestly too. Yes, very likely, but don't you know that girls never think of what they are talking about, or rather never talk of what they are thinking about? and they have always ten times more to say to the man they don't care for than to him they do very extraordinary said lady conbrony i only hope you are right i am sure of it said mrs broadhurst only let things go on and mind your cards i beseech you to-morrow night better than you did to-night and you will see that things will turn out just as i prophesied lord calamber will come to a point-blank proposal

before the end of the week and will be accepted or my name's not broadhurst why in plain english i am clear my girl likes him and when that's the case you know can you doubt how the thing will end mrs broadhurst was perfectly right in every point of her reasoning but one from long habit of seeing and considering that such an heiress as her daughter might marry whom she pleased from constantly seeing that she was the person to decide and to reject mrs broadhurst had literally taken it for granted that everything was to depend upon her daughter's inclinations she was not mistaken in the present case in opining that the young lady would not be averse to lord calamber if he came to what she called a point-blank proposal it really never occurred to mrs broadhurst that any man whom her daughter was the least inclined to favour could think of anybody else quick-sighted in these affairs as the matron thought herself she saw but one side of the question blind and dull of comprehension as she thought lady clonbroni on this subject she was herself so completely blinded by her own prejudices as to be incapable of discerning the plain thing that was before her eyes vidalicet that lord calamber prefer word, Grace Nugent. Lord Calamber made no proposal before the end of the week,

but this Mrs. Broadhurst attributed to an unexpected occurrence, which prevented things from going on in the train in which they had been proceeding so smoothly. Sir John Barrel, Mr. Barrel's father, was suddenly seized with a dangerous illness. The news was brought to Mr. Barrow one evening whilst he was at Lady Clonbronies. The circumstances of domestic distrower,

which afterwards occurred in the family of his friend entirely occupied Lord Calamber's time and attention. All thoughts of love were suspended, and his whole mind was given up to the active services of friendship. The sudden illness of Sir John Barrel spread an alarm among his creditors, which brought to light at once the disorder of his affairs, of which his son had no knowledge or suspicion. Lady Beryl had been a very expensive woman, especially in equipages, and Mordecai, the coachmaker, appeared at this time the foremost and the most inexorable of their creditors. Conscious that the charges in his account were exorbitant and that they would not be allowed, if examined by a court of justice, that it was a debt which only ignorance and extravagance

could have in the first instance incurred, swelled afterwards to an amazing amount by interest and interest upon interest, Mordecai was impatient to obtain payment whilst Sir John yet lived, or at least to obtain legal security for the whole sum from the air. Mr. Beryl offered his bond for the amount of the reasonable charges in his account,

but this Mordecai absolutely refused, declaring that now he had the power in his own hands, he would use it to obtain the utmost penny of his debt, that he would not let the thing slip through his fingers, that a debtor never yet escaped him and never should, that a man's lying upon his deathbed was no excuse to a creditor, that he was not a withler to stand upon ceremony about disturbing a gentleman in his last moments, that he was not to be cheated out of his due by such niceties, that he was prepared to go all lengths the law would allow. For that, as to what people's

said of him he did not care adroit. Cover your face with your hands if you like Mr. Barrel. You may be ashamed for me, but I feel no shame for myself. I am not so weak. Mordecai's countenance said more than his words. Livid with malice and with atrocious determination in his eyes he stood. Yes, sir, said he. You may look at me as you please.

It is possible. I am in earnest. Consult what you'll do. now. Behind my back or before my face it comes to the same thing, for nothing will do but my money or your bond, Mr. Beryl. The arrest is made on the person of your father, luckily made while the breath is still in the body. Yes, start forward to strike me, if you dare. Your father, Sir John Beryl, sick or well, is my prisoner. Lady Beryl and Mr. Beryl's sisters in an agony of grief rushed into the room.

It's all useless, cried Mardukai, turning his back upon the ladies. These tricks upon creditors won't do with me. I'm used to these scenes. I'm not made of such stuff as you think. Leave a gentleman in peace in his last moments. No, he ought not, nor shan't die in peace if he don't pay his debts.

And if you are all so mighty sorry, ladies, there's the gentleman you may kneel, too. If tenderness is the order of the day, it's for the sun to show it, not me. Aye, now, Mr. Beryl, cried he, as Mr. Beryl took up the bond to sign it. You're beginning to know I'm not a fool to be trifled with. Stop your hand if you choose it, sir, it's all the same to me,

the person or the money. I'll carry with me out of this house. Mr. Beryl signed the bond and threw it to him. There, Monster, quit the house. "'Monster is not actionable. "'I wish you had called me rascal,' said Mordecai, "'grinning a horrible smile, "'and taking up the bond deliberately returned it to Mr. Beryl.

"'This paper is worth nothing to me, sir. "'It is not witnessed.' "'Mr. Beryl hastily left the room "'and returned with Lord Calamber. "'Mortechi changed countenance and grew pale "'for a moment at sight of Lord Calamber. well my lord since it so happens i am not sorry that you should be witness to this paper said he and indeed not sorry that you should witness the whole proceeding for i trust i shall be able to explain to you my conduct i do not come here sir interrupted lord calamber to listen to any explanations of your conduct which i perfectly understand i come to witness a bond for my friend mr beryl if you think proper to extort from him such a bond

i extort nothing my lord mr beryl it is quite a voluntary act take notice on your part sign or not witness or not as you please gentlemen said mordecai sticking his hands in his pockets and recovering his look of black and fixed determination witness it witness it my dear lord said mr beryl looking at his mother and weeping sisters witness it quick mr beryl must just run over his name again in your presence, my lord, with a dry pen, said Mordecai, putting the pen into Mr. Barrow's hand. No, sir, said Lord Calamber. My friend shall never sign it. As you please, my lord, the bond or the body before I quit this house, said Mordecai. Neither, sir, shall you have, and you quit this house directly. How, how, my lord, how's this? Sir, the arrest you have made is as illegal as it is inhuman.

Illegal, my lord, said Mordecai startled. Illegal, sir. I came into this house at the moment when your bailiff asked and was refused admittance. Afterwards, in the confusion of the family above stairs, he forced open the house door with an iron bar. I saw him. I am ready to give evidence of the fact. now proceed at your peril. Mordecai, without reply, snatched up his hat and walked towards the door.

But Lord Colamber held the door open. The door was immediately at the head of the stairs, and Mordecai, seeing his indignant look and proud form, hesitated to pass, for he had always heard that Irishmen are quick in the executive part of justice. Pass on, sir, repeated Lord Calamber with an air of, of ineffable contempt. I am a gentleman, you have nothing to fear. Mordecai ran downstairs.

Lord Calamber before he went back into the room, waited to see Mordecai and his bailiff out of the house. When Mordecai was fairly at the bottom of the stairs, he turned, and, white with rage, looked up at Lord Calamber. Charity begins at home, my lord, said he. Look at home. You shall pay for this, added he, standing half-shielded by the house-door, for Lord Calamber moved forward, as he spoke the last words,

and I give you this warning because I know it will be of no use to you. You are most obedient, my lord. The house-door closed after Mordecai. Thank heaven, thought Lord Calamber, that I did not horsewhip that mean wretch. This warning shall be of use to me, but it is not time to think of that yet. Lord Calam returned from his own affairs to those of his friend to offer all the assistants and consolation in his power. Sir John Barrell died that night. His daughters who had lived in the highest style in London

were left totally unprovided for. His widow had mortgaged her jointure. Mr. Barrel had an estate now left to him, but without any income. He could not be so dishonest as to refused to pay his father's just debts, he could not let his mother and sisters starve. The scene of distress to which Lord Calamber was witness in this family made a still greater impression upon him than had been made by the warning or the threats of Mordecai. The similarity between the circumstances of his friends' family and of his own

struck him forcibly. All this evil had arisen from Lady Bury. barrel's passion for living in london and at watering-places she had made her husband an absentee an absentee from his home his affairs his duties and his estate the sea the irish channel did not indeed flow between him and his estate but it was of little importance whether the separation was affected by land or water the consequences the negligence the extravagance were the same of the few people of his age who are capable of profiting by the experience of others lord colambor was one experience as an elegant writer has observed is an article that may be borrowed with safety and is often dearly bought end of chapter four chapter five of the absentee by maria edgeworth this librivox recording is in the public domain in the meantime lady clonbrony had been occupied with thoughts very different from those which passed in the mind of her son though she had never completely recovered from her rheumatic pains she had become inordinately impatient of confinement to her own house and weary of those dull evenings at home which had in her son absence become insupportable. She told over her visiting tickets regularly twice a day and gave to every card of invitation a heartfelt sigh. Miss Pratt alarmed her ladyship by bringing

intelligence of some parties given by persons of consequence to which she was not invited. She feared that she should be forgotten in the world, well-knowing how soon the world forgets those they do not see every day and everywhere. How miserable is the fine lady's lot who cannot forget the world and who is forgot by the world in a moment. How much more miserable still is the condition of a would-be fine lady working her way up in the world with care and pains? By her, every the slightest failure of attention from persons of rank and fashion is marked and felt with jealous anxiety and with the sense of mortification the most acute. An invitation omitted is a matter of the most serious.

serious consequence, not only as it regards the present, but the future, for if she be not invited by Lady A, it will lower her in the eyes of Lady B, and of all the ladies of the alphabet. It will form a precedent of the most dangerous and inevitable application. If she has nine invitations and the tenth be wanting, the nine have no power to make her happy. This was precisely Lady Clonbrony's case. There was to be a part of it. at lady st james's for which lady clandrony had no card so ungrateful so monstrous of lady st james what was the gala so soon forgotten and all the marked attentions paid that night to lady st james attentions you know prant which were looked upon with a jealous eye and made me enemies enough i am told in another quarter of all people i did not expect to be slated by lady st james miss pratt who was ever ready to undertake the defence of any person who had a title pleaded in mitigation of censure that perhaps lady st james might not be aware that her ladyship was yet well enough to venture out oh my dear miss pratt that cannot be the thing for in spite of my rheumatism which really was bad enough last sunday i went on purpose to the royal chapel to show myself in the closet and knelt close to her ladyship and my dear we

curtsied, and she congratulated me after church upon my being abroad again, and was so happy to see me look so well and all that. Oh, it is something very extraordinary and unaccountable. But I dare say a card will come yet, said Miss Prant. Upon this hint, Lady Conbroni's hope revived, and, staying her anger, she began to consider how she could manage to get herself invited. Refreshing tickets were left next morning at Lady St. James's with their corners properly turned up. To do the thing better, separate tickets for herself and for Miss Nugent were left for each member of the family, and her civil messages, left with the footman, extended to the utmost possibility of remainder. It had occurred to her ladyship that for

Miss Somebody, the companion, of whom she had never in her life thought before, she had omitted to leave a card last time, and she now left a note of explanation. She further, with her rheumatic head and arm out of the coach window, sat the wind-blowing keen upon her, explaining to the porter and the footman to discover whether her former tickets had gone safely up to Lady St. James, and on the present occasion to make assurance doubly sure, she slid handsome expedition money into the servant's hand. Sir, you will be sure to remember. oh certainly your ladyship she well knew what dire offence has frequently been taken what sad disasters have occurred in the fashionable world from the neglect of a porter in delivering or of a footman in carrying up one of those talismanic cards but in spite of all her manoeuvres no invitation to the party arrived next day pratt was next set to work miss pratt was a most convenient go-between

who, in consequence of doing a thousand little services, to which few others of her rank and life would stoop, had obtained the entree to a number of great houses and was behind the scenes in many fashionable families. Pratt could find out, and Pratt could hint, and Pratt could manage to get things done cleverly, and hints were given in all directions to work round to Lady St. James,

but still they did not take effect. at last pratt suggested that perhaps though everything else had failed dried salmon might be tried with success lady conbroni had just had some uncommonly good from ireland which pratt knew lady st james would like to have at her supper because a certain personage whom she would not name was particularly fond of it wheel within wheel in the fine world as well as in the political world bribes for all occasions and for all ranks the timely present was sent accepted with many thanks and understood as it was meant per favor of this propitiatory offering and of a promise of half a dozen pair of real limerick gloves to miss pratt a promise which pratt clearly comprehended to be a conditional promise the grand object was at length accomplished the very day before the party was to take place came cards of invitation to lady clambroni and to miss nugent with Lady St. James's apologies, her ladyship was concerned to find that, by some negligence of her servants, these cards were not sent in proper time. How slight an apology will do from some people, thought Miss Nugent, how eager to forgive when

it is for our interest or our pleasure, how well people act the being deceived, even when all parties know that they see the whole truth, and how low pride will stoop to gain its object. Ashamed of the whole transaction, Miss Nugent earnestly wished that a refusal should be sent, and reminded her aunt of her rheumatism, but rheumatism and all other objections were overruled, Lady Clon Roney would go. It was just when this affair was thus, in her opinion, successfully settled, that Lord Colamborcan with a countenance of unusual seriousness his mind full of the melancholy scenes he had witnessed in his friend's family what is the matter calamber he related what had passed he described the brutal conduct of mordecai the anguish of the mother and sisters the distress of mr beryl tears rolled down miss nugent's cheeks lady conbroni declared it was very shocking listened with attention to all the particulars but never failed to correct her son whenever he said Mr. Beryl.

Sir Arthur Beryl, you mean? She was, however, really touched with compassion when he spoke of Lady Beryl's destitute condition, and her son was going on to repeat what Mordecai had said to him, but Lady Clandroney interrupted. Oh, my dear Colamber, don't repeat that detestable man's impertinent speeches to me. If there is anything really about business, speak to your father. At any rate, don't tell us of it now, because I have a hundred things to do, said her ladyship,

hurrying out of the room. Grace, Grace Nugent, I want you. Lord Palamber sighed deeply. Don't despair, said Miss Nugent as she followed to obey her aunt's summons. Don't despair. Don't attempt to speak to her again till tomorrow morning. Her head is now full of Lady St. James's party. when it is emptied of that you will have a better chance.

Never despair. Never, while you encourage me to hope that any good can be done. Lady Clonbroni was particularly glad that she had carried her point about this party at Lady St. James's, because, from the first private intimation that the Duchess of Torcaster was to be there, her ladyship flattered herself that the long-desired introduction might then be accomplished. but of this hope lady st james had likewise received intimation from the double-dealing miss pratt and a warning note was despatched to the duchess to let her grace know that circumstances had occurred which had rendered it impossible not to ask the clonbronies an excuse of course for not going to this party was sent by the duchess her grace did not like large parties she would have the pleasure of accepting lady st james's invitation for her select party on Wednesday the 10th.

Into these select parties, Lady Conbroni had never been admitted. In return for her great entertainments, she was invited to great entertainments, to large parties, but farther she could never penetrate. At Lady St. James's, and with her set, Lady Conbrony suffered a different kind of mortification from that which Lady Langdale and Mrs. Dareville made her endure. she was safe from the witty raillery the sly innuendo the insolent mimicry but she was kept at a cold impassable distance by ceremony so far shalt thou go and no farther was expressed in every look in every word and in a thousand different ways by the most punctilious respect and nice regard to precedency even by words of courtesy your ladyship does me honour etc

lady st james contrived to mortify and to mark the difference between those with whom she was and with whom she was not upon terms of intimacy and equality thus the ancient grandees of spain drew a line of demarcation between themselves and the newly created nobility whenever or wherever they met they treated the new nobles with the utmost respect never addressed them but with all their titles with low bows and with all the appearance of being with the most perfect consideration anything but their equals whilst towards one another the grandees laid aside their state and omitting their titles it was alcala madina sedonia infantado and a freedom and familiarity which marked equality entrenched in etiquette in this manner and mocked with marks of respect it was impossible either to intrude or or to complain of being excluded. At supper at Lady St. James's, Lady Clonbrony's present was pronounced by some gentlemen to be remarkably high-flavored.

This observation turned the conversation to Irish commodities and Ireland. Lady Clonbrony, possessed by the idea that it was disadvantageous to appear as an Irish woman or as a favorer of Ireland, began to be embarrassed. by Lady St. James's repeated thanks. Had it been in her power to offer anything else with propriety,

she would not have thought of sending her ladyship anything from Ireland. Vexed by the questions that were asked her about her country, Lady Clonbroni, as usual, denied it to be her country, and went on to depreciate and abuse everything Irish, to declare that there was no possibility of living in Ireland, and that for her own part she was resolved never to return thither. Lady St. James, preserving perfect silence, let her go on. Lady Conbrony, imagining that this silence arose from coincidence of opinion,

proceeded with all the eloquence she possessed, which was very little, repeating the same exclamations and reiterating her vow of perpetual expatriation, till at last an elderly lady, who was, a stranger to her and whom she had till this moment scarcely noticed took up the defence of ireland with much warmth and energy the eloquence with which she spoke and the respect with which she was heard astonished lady clonbroni who is she whispered her ladyship does not your ladyship know lady oran more the irish lady oran more lord bless me what have i said what have i done oh why did you not give me a hint lady st james i was not aware that your ladyship was not acquainted with lady oran mar replied lady st james unmoved by her distress everybody sympathized with lady oran more and admired the honest zeal with which she abided by her country, and defended it against unjust aspersions and affected execrations.

Everyone present enjoyed Lady Conbrony's confusion, except Miss Nugent, who sat with her eyes bowed down by penetrative shame during the whole of this scene. She was glad that Lord Calamber was not witness to it, and comforted herself with the hope that, upon the whole Lady Clonbrony would be benefited by the pain she had felt. This instance might convince her that it was not necessary to deny her country to be received in any company in England, and that those who have the courage and steadiness to be themselves and to support what they feel and believe to be the truth must command respect.

Miss Nugent hoped that in consequence of this conviction, Lady Clonbrony would lay aside the little affectation by which her manners were painfully constrained and ridiculous, and above all, she hoped that what Lady Oranmore had said of Ireland might dispose her aunt to listen with patience to all Lord Calamber might urge in favour of returning to her home. But Miss Nugent hoped in vain. Lady Clonbrony never in her life generalized any observations

or drew any but a partial conclusion from the most striking facts. Lord, my dear Grace, said she, as soon as they were seated in their carriage, what a scrape I got into tonight at supper, and what disgrace I came to, and all this because I did not know Lady Oranmore. Now you see the inconceivable disadvantage of not knowing everybody, everybody of a certain rank, of course, I mean. Miss Nugent endeavoured to slide in her own moral on the occasion, but it would not do.

yes my dear lady oran more may talk in that kind of style of ireland because on the other hand she is so highly connected in england and besides she is an old lady and may take liberties in short she is lady oranmore and that's enough the next morning when they all met at breakfast lady conbroni complained bitterly of her increased rheumatism of the disagreeable stupid party they had had the preceding night and and of the necessity of going to another formal party that night the next and the next and in the true fine lady style deplored her situation and the impossibility of avoiding those things which felt they curse yet covet still to feel miss nugent determined to retire as soon as she could from the breakfast-room to leave lord calamber an opportunity of talking over his family affairs at full liberty she knew by the seriousness of his countenance of his countenance of his countenance of his countenance of his countenance that his mind was intent upon doing so and she hoped that his influence with his father and mother would not be exerted in vain but just as she was rising from the breakfast-table in came sir terence ophay and seating himself quite at his ease in spite of lady clandrony's repulsive looks his awe of lord calamber having now worn off o'm tired said he and have a right to be tired for it's no small walk i've taken for the good of this noble family this morning. And, Miss Nugent, before I say more, I'll take cup of ta from you, if you please. Lady Clonbrony rose with great stateliness and walked to the farthest end of the room,

where she established herself at her writing-table and began to write notes. Sir Terence wiped his forehead deliberately. Then I've had a fine run. Miss Nugent, I believe you never saw me run, but I can run, I promise you, when it's to serve a friend. and, my lord, turning to Lord Clonbrony, what do you think I run for this morning? To buy a bargain, and of what? A bargain of a bad debt, a debt of yours, which I bargained for,

and up just in time, and Mordecai's ready to hang himself this minute. For what do you think but that rascal was bringing upon you, but an execution he was? An execution, repeated everybody present, except Lord Calamber. And how has this spirit? been prevented, sir, said Lord Calamber.

Oh, let me alone for that, said Sir Terrence. I got a hint from my little friend Paddy Brady, who would not be paid for it either, though he's as poor as a rat. Well, as soon as I got the hint, I dropped the thing I had in my hand, which was the Dublin Evenin, and ran for the bare life, for there wasn't a coach, in my slippers as I was,

to get into the prior creditor's shoes, who is the little solicitor that lives in crutched friars, which Mordecai never dreamt of, luckily. So he was very genteel, though he was taken on a sudden, and from his breakfast, which an Englishman don't like particularly, I popped him a ducer of a draft, at thirty-one days on Garity the agent, of which he must get notice,

but I won't discount on the law before the ladies. He handed me over his debt and execution, and he made me prior creditor in a choice. Then I took coach and state, the first I met, and away with me to long-eastern, saw Mordecai. Sir, says I, I hear you're meditating an execution on a friend of mine.

Am I, said the rascal, who told you so? No matter, said I, but I just called in to let you know there's no use in life of your execution, for there's a prior creditor with his execution to be satisfied first. So he made a great many black faces

and said a great deal, which I never listened to, but came off here clean to tell you all the story. Not one word of which do I understand, said Lady Conbrony. Then, my dear, you are very ungrateful, said Lord Croner. Lord Calamber said nothing, for he wished to learn more of Sir Terence O'Fay's character, of the state of his father's affairs, and of the family methods of proceeding in matters of business.

Faith, Terry, I know I'm very thankful to you, but an execution's an ugly thing, and I hope there's no danger. Never fear, said Sir Terrence. Haven't I been at my wits' ends for myself or my friends, ever since I come to man's estate, to years of discretion, I should say, for the deuce afoot of estate have I, but use has shortened my wits pretty well for your service.

So never be in dread, my good lord, for look ye, cried the reckless knight, sticking his arms akimbo, look ye here, in Sir Terence O'Fay stands a host that desires no better than to encounter, singler-witted all the duns in the United Kingdoms, Mordecai the Jew inclusive. Ah, that's the devil, that Mordecai, said Lord Conbroni. That's the only man on earth I dread. Why, he is only a coach-maker, is not he? said Lady Conbroni. I can't think how you can talk, my lord, of dreading such a low man. Tell him, if he's troublesome, we won't bespeak any more

carriages, and I'm sure I wish you would not be so silly, my lord, to employ him any more when you know he disappointed me the last birthday about the Landau, which I have not got yet. Nonsense, my dear, said Lord Clonbrony. You don't know what you're talking of. Terry, I say, even a friendly execution is an ugly thing. Foo, foo, an ugly thing. So is a fit of the gout, but one's all the better for it after. Tis just a renewal of life, my lord. Tis just a renewal of life, my for which one must pay a bit of a fine, you know. Take patience and leave me to manage all properly. You know, I'm used to these things.

Only you recollect, if you please, how I manage my friend, Lord— It's bad to be mentioned in names, but Lord everybody knows who. Didn't I bring him through cleverly, when there was that rascally attempt to seize the family plate? I had notice, and what did I do, but broke open a partition between that Lord's house

and my lodgings, which I had taken, next door and so when the sheriff's officers were searching below on the ground floor i just shoved the plate easy-through to my bedchamber at a moment's warning and then bid the gentlemen walk in for they couldn't set a foot in my paradise the devils so they stood looking at it through the wall and cursing me and i holden both my sides with laughter at their fallen faces sir terence and lord clonbroney laughed in concert this is a good story said miss newgen smiling, but surely, Sir Terrence, such things are never done in real life. Dun, ah, hey are they, and I could tell you a hundred better strokes,

my dear Miss Nugent. Grace, cried Lady Conbrony, do pray have the goodness to seal and send these notes. For really, whispered she, as her niece came to the table, I can't stay, I can't bear that man's vice. His accent grows horridor and horridor. Her ladyship rose and left

the room. I then continued Sir Terrence, following up Miss Nugent to the table where she was sealing letters, I must tell you how I served that same man on another occasion and got the victory, too. No general officer

could talk of his victories or fight his battles o'er again with more complacency than Sir Terence O'Fay recounted his civil exploits. Now I'll tell Miss Nugent, there was a footman in the family, not an Irishman, but one of your powdered English scoundrels that ladies are so fond of heaven hanging to the backs of their carriages.

One Fleming, he was, that turned spy and traitor and informer, went privately and gave notice to the creditors where the plate was hid in the thickness of the chimney. But if he did, what happened? Why, I had my counterspy, an honest little Irish boy in the creditors' shop that I had secured with the little ducer of Usquibah, and he outwitted, as was natural, the English Lion valet, and gave us notice just in the neck, and I got ready for their reception,

and, Miss Nugent, I only wish you'd seen the excellent sport we had, letting them follow the scent they got, and when they were sure of their game, what did they find? Ha, ha, ha! Dragged out, after a world of labor, a heavy box of a load of brickbats, not an item of my friend's plate. That was all snug in the coal hole, where them dunces never thought of looking for it. but come terry cried lord clonbrony i'll pull down your pride how finally another time your job of the false ceiling answered in the hall i've heard that story and have been told how the sheriff's fellow thrust his bayonet up through your false plaster and down came tumbling the family plate hey terry that hit cost your friend lord everybody knows who more than your heads worth terry i ask your pardon my lord he'd never cost him a farthen when he paid seven thousand pounds for the plate to redeem it

well and did not i make up for that at the races of blank the creditors learned that my lord's horse naboclisch was to run at blank races and as the sheriff's officer knew he dare not touch him on the race ground what does he do but he comes down early in the morning on the mail-coach and walks straight down to the livery stables he had an exact description of the stables and the stall and the horse's body-clothes i was there seeing the horse taken care of and knowing the cut of the fellow's jib what does i do but whips the body-clothes off nabuch and claps them upon a garon that the priest would not ride then comes the bailiff good-morrow to you sir says i leaden's out of the stable my lord's horse with an old saddle and broidal on. Tim Neal, says I to the groom who was rubbing down the Garone's heels. Moinj your hits today and we'll wet the plate tonight. Not so fast neither, says the bailiff, here's my writ for season the horse. Ock, says I, you wouldn't be so cruel.

That's all my eye, says he, season the Garone, while I mounted Napaklish and rode him off deliberately to, you that was neat i grant you terry said lord tombrony but what adult of a born ignoramus must that sheriff's fellow have been not to know nabaklish when he saw him but stay my lord stay miss nudgeon i have more for you following her wherever she moved i did not let him off so even at the cant i bid and bid against them for the pretended nabaklish till i left him on their hands for five hundred guineas ha ha ha was not that famous but said miss nugent i cannot believe you are in earnest sir terence surely this would be what out with it my dear miss nugent i am afraid of offending you you can't my dear i defy you say the word that came to the tongue's in it's always the best i was going to say swindling said the young lady colouring deeply oh you was going to say wrong then it's not called swindlin amongst gentlemen who know the world it's only jockean fine sport and very honourable to help a friend at a dead left anything to get a friend out of a present present difficulty and when the present difficulty is over do your friends never think of the future the future leave the future to posterity said sir terence i'm counsel only for the present and when the evil comes it's time enough to think of it i can't bring the guns of my wit

to bear till the enemies alongside of me or within sight of me at the least besides there never was a good commander yet by sea or land that would tell his little expedience beforehand or before the very day of battle it must be a sad thing said miss nugent sighing deeply to be reduced to live by little expedients daily expedients lord calambor struck his forehead but said nothing but if you are beaten your brains about your own affairs my lord calamber my dear said sir terence there's an easy way of settling your family affairs at once and since you don't like little daily expedients miss nugent there's one great expedient and an expedient for life that will settle it all to your satisfaction and ours i hinted it delicately to you before but between friends delicacy is impertinent so i tell you in plain english you've nothing to do but go and propose yourself just as you stand to the heiress miss be that desires no better sir cried lord calamber stepping forward red with sudden anger miss nugent laid her hand upon his arm oh my lord sir terence o fay continued lord in a moderated tone. You are wrong to mention that young lady's name in such a manner. Why, then, I said only Miss B, and there are a whole hive of bees,

but I'll engage she'd thank me for what I suggested, and take herself the queen bee if my expedient was adopted by you. Sir Terrence, said his lordship, smiling, if my father thinks proper that you should manage his affairs and devise expedients for him, I have nothing to say on that point, but i must beg you will not trouble yourself to suggest expedients for me and that you will have the goodness to leave me to settle my own affairs sir terence made a low bow and was silent for five seconds then turning to lord clonbroni who looked much more abashed than he did by the wise one my good lord i believe there are some men noble men too that don't know their friends from their enemies it's my firm persuasion now that if i had served you-i believe there are some men noblemen too that don't know their friends from their enemies it's my firm persuasion now that if i had served you as I served my friend I was talking of,

Your son there would, ten to one, think I had done him an injury by saving the family plate. I certainly should, sir. The family plate, sir, is not the first object in my mind, replied Lord Colamber. Family honour, nay, Miss Nugent, I must speak, continued his lordship, perceiving by her countenance that she was alarmed.

Never fear, Miss Nugent, dear, said Sir Terence. I am as cool as a cucumber. faith then my lord calamber i agree with you that family honours a mighty fine thing only troublesome to one's self and one's friends and expensive to keep up with all the other expenses and debts a gentleman has nowadays so i that am under no natural obligations to it by birth or otherwise have just stood by true life and asked myself before i would volunteer being bound to it what could the same family honor do for a man in this world and first and foremost i never remember to see family honor stand a man in much stead in a court of law never saw family honor stand against an execution or a custodian or an injunction even tis a rare thing this same family honor and a very fine thing but i never knew it yet at a pinch pay for a pair of boots even added sir terence drawing up his own with much complacency at this moment sir terence was called out of the room by one who wanted to speak to him on particular business. My dear father, cried Lord Calamber, do not follow him, stay for one moment, and hear your son, your true friend. Miss Nugent went out of the room that she might leave the father and son at

liberty. Hear your natural friend for one moment, cried Lord Calamber. Let me beseech you, father, not to have recourse to any of these paltry expedients, but trust your son with the state of your effect. and we shall find some honorable means yes yes yes very true when you're of age colamber we'll talk of it but nothing can be done till then we shall get on we shall get through very well till then with terry's assistance and i must beg you will not say a word more against terry i can't bear it i can't hear it i can't do without him pray don't detain me i can say no more except added he returning to his usual concluding sentence that there need at all events be none of this if people would but live upon their own estates and kill their own mutton he stole out of the room glad to escape however shabbily from present explanation and present pain there are persons without resource who in difficulties return always to the same point and usually to the same words while lord colambor was walking up and down the room much vexed and disappointed

at finding that he could make no impression on his father's mind, nor obtain his confidence as to his family affairs, Lady Clonbroni's woman, Mrs. Petito, knocked at the door, with a message from her lady, to beg if Lord Calamber was by himself, he would go to her dressing-room, as she wished to have a conference with him. He obeyed her summons.

Sit down, my dear Calamber. And she began precisely with her old, sentence. With the fortune I brought your father, and with my lord's estate, I can't understand the meaning of all these pecuniary difficulties, and all that strange creature Sir Terrence says is algebra to me, who speak English, and I am particularly sorry he was let in this morning, but he's such a brute that he does not think anything of forcing one's door, and he tells my footman he does not mind not at home a pinch of snuff. Now, what can you do with a man who would say, that sort of thing, you know, the world's at an end.

I wish my father had nothing to do with him, ma'am, as much as you can wish it, said Lord Calamber, but I have said all that a son can with propriety say, and without effect. What particularly provokes me against him, continued Lady Conbrony, is what I have just heard from Grace, who was really hurt by it, too, for she is the warmest friend in the world. I allude to the creature's indelicate way of touching upon a tender pint and mentioning an amiable young heiress's name. My dear Calamber, I trust you have given me credit for my inviolable silence all this time upon the pint nearest my heart. I am rejoiced to hear you was so warm when she was mentioned inadvertently by Vat Brut,

and I trust you now see the advantages of the projected union in as strong and agreeable a point of view as I do, my own Calamber. and i should leave things to themselves and let you prolong the dees of courtship as you please only for what i now hear incidentally from my lord and the brute about pecuniary embarrassments and the necessity of something being done before next winter and indeed i think now in propriety the proposal cannot be delayed much longer for the world begins to talk of the thing as done and even mrs broadhurst i know had no doubt that if this contratae about the poor barrels had not occurred, your proposal would have been made before the end of last week. Our hero was not a man to make a proposal because Mrs. Broadhurst expected it, or to marry because the world said he was going to be married. He steadily said that from the first moment the subject had been mentioned, he had

explained himself distinctly, that the young lady's friends could not, therefore, be under any doubt as to his intentions, that if they had voluntarily deceived themselves or exposed the lady in situations from which the world was led to make false conclusions, he was not answerable. He felt his conscience at ease, entirely so, as he was convinced that the young lady herself, for whose merit, talents, independence, and generosity of character, he professed high respect, esteem, and admiration, had no doubts either of the extent. or the nature of his regard regard respect esteem admiration why my dearest colambor this is saying all i want satisfies me and i am sure would satisfy mrs broadhurst and miss broadhurst too no doubt it will ma'am but not if i aspired to the honour of miss broadhurst's hand or professed myself her lover my dear you are mistaken miss broadhurst is too sensible a girl a vast

deal to look for love and a dying lover and all that sort of stuff i am persuaded indeed i have it from good from the best authority that the young lady you know one must be delicate in these cases where a young lady of such fortune and no despicable family too is concerned therefore i cannot speak quite plainly but i say i have it from the best authority that you would be preferred to any other suitor and in short that i beg your pardon madam for interrupting you cried lord calamber colouring a good deal but you must excuse me if i say that the only authority on which i could believe this is one from which i am morally certain i shall never hear it from miss broadhurst herself lord child if you would only ask her the question she would tell you it is truth i dare say but as i have no curiosity on the subject ma'am lord bless me i thought everybody had curiosity but still without curiosity i am sure it would gratify you when you did hear it and can't you just put the simple question impossible impossible now that is so very provoking when the thing is all but done well take your own time all i will ask of you then is to let things go on as they are going smoothly and pleasantly and i'll not press you farther on the subject at present let things go on smoothly that's all i ask and say nothing i wish i could oblige you mother but i cannot do this since you tell me that the world and miss broadhurst's friends have already misunderstood my intentions it becomes necessary in justice to the the young lady and to myself that I should make all further doubt impossible. I shall therefore

put an end to it at once, by leaving town to-morrow. Lady Conbrony, breathless for a moment with surprise, exclaimed, bless me, leave town tomorrow, just at the beginning of the season. Impossible. I never saw such a precipitate rash young man. But stay only a few weeks, Colamber, physicians advise buxton for my rheumatism and you shall take us to buxton early in the season you cannot refuse me that why if miss broadhurst was a dragon you could not be in a greater hurry to run away from her what are you afraid of of doing what is wrong the only thing i trust of which i shall ever be afraid lady clonbrony tried persuasion and argument such argument as she could use but all in vain lord calamber was firm in his resolution At last she came to tears, and her son, in much agitation, said, I cannot bear this mother. I would do anything you ask that I could do with honour, but this is impossible.

Why impossible? I will take all blame upon myself, and you are sure that Miss Broadhurst does not misunderstand you, and you esteem her, and admire her and all that, and all I ask is that you'll go on as you are, and see more of her, and, How do you know, but you may fall in love with her, as you call it, tomorrow? Because, madam, since you press me so far, my affections are engaged to another person. Do not look so dreadfully shocked, my dear mother, I have told you truly that I think myself too young, much too young, yet to marry. In the circumstances in which I know my family are, it is probable that I shall not for some years be able to marry as I wish.

You may depend upon it that I shall not take any step, I shall not even declare my attachment to the object of my affection without your knowledge, and far from being inclined to follow headlong my own passions, strong as they are, be assured that the honour of my family, your happiness, my mother, my fathers, are my first objects. I shall never think of my own till these are secured. Of the conclusion of this speech, Lady Conbrony heard only the sound of the words. From the moment her son had pronounced that his affections were engaged, she had been running over in her head every probable and improbable person she could think of. At last, suddenly starting up, she opened one of the folding doors into the next apartment and called,

Grace, Grace, Newgent, put down your pencil, Grace, this minute, and come here. Miss Nugent obeyed with her usual alacrity, and the moment she entered the room, Lady Conbrony, fixing her eyes full upon her said, "'There's your cousin, Calamber, tells me his affections are engaged.' "'Yes, to Miss Broadhurst, no doubt,' said Miss Nugent, smiling, with a simplicity and openness of countenance, which assured Lady Conbrony that all was safe in that quarter, a suspicion which had darted into her mind was dispelled.

"'No doubt, aye, do you hear that? No doubt, Calamber? grace you see has no doubt nobody has any doubt but yourself colamber and are your affections engaged and not to miss broadhurst said miss nugent approaching lord calamber there now you see how you surprise and disappoint everybody i am sorry that miss nugent should be disappointed said lord calamber but because i am disappointed pray do not call me miss nugent or turn away from me as if you were displeased it must then be some cambridge sure lady said lady tombrony i am sure i am very sorry he ever went to cambridge oxford i advised one of the miss barrels i presume who have nothing i'll have nothing more to do with those barrels there was the reason of the sun's vast intimacy grace you may give up all thoughts of sir arthur i have no thoughts to give up ma'am said miss nugent smiling miss broadhurst continued she going on eagerly with what she was saying to lord colambor miss broadhurst is my friend a friend i love and admire but you will allow that i strictly kept my promise never to praise her to you till you should begin to praise her to me now recollect last night you did praise her to me so justly that i thought you liked her i confess so that it is natural i should feel a little disappointed now you know the whole of my mind i have no intention to encroach on your confidence therefore there is no occasion to look so embarrassed i give you my word i will never speak to you again upon the subject said she holding out her hand to him provided you will never again call me miss nugent am i not your own cousin grace to not be displeased with her you are my own dear cousin grace and nothing can be farther from my mind than any thought of being displeased with her especially just at this moment when i am going away probably for a considerable time

away when where to-morrow morning for ireland ireland of all places cried lady conbrony what upon earth puts it into your head to go to Ireland. You do very well to go out of the way of falling in love ridiculously, since that is the reason of your going. But what put Ireland into your head, child? I will not presume to ask my mother what put Ireland out of her head, said Lord Calamber, smiling, but she will recollect that it is my native country. That was your father's fault, not mine, said Lady Conbrony, for I wished to have been confined in English. England, but he would have it to say that his son and heir was born at Clonbrony Castle. And there was a great argument between him and my uncle, and something about the Prince of Wales

and Carnarvan Castle was thrown in, and that turned the scale, much against my will, for it was my wish that my son should be an Englishman born, like myself. But after all, I don't see that having the misfortune to be born in a country should tie one to it in any sort of way, and I should have hoped your English education Calamber would have given you two liberal ideas for that, so I really don't see why you should go to Ireland merely because it's your native country. Not merely because it is my native country, but I wish to go thither. I desire to become acquainted with it, because it is the country in which my father's property lies, and from which we draw our subsistence. Subsistence! Lord bless me! What a word! Fit her for a pauper. than a nobleman, subsistence.

Then if you are going to look after your father's property, I hope you will make the agents do their duty and send us remittances. And pray, how long do you mean to stay? Till I am of age, madam, if you have no objection, I will spend the ensuing months in travelling in Ireland, and I will return here by the time I am of age, unless you and my father should before that time be in Ireland.

not the least chance of that if I can prevent it, I promise you, said Lady Conbroni. Lord Calamber and Miss Nugent sighed. And I am sure I shall take it very unkindly of you, Calamber, if you go and turn out a partisan for Ireland after all, like Grace Nugent. A partisan, no, I hope not a partisan, but a friend, said Miss Nugent. Nonsense, child, I hate to hear people, women especially. and young ladies particularly, talk of being friends to this country or that country. What can they know about countries?

Better think of being friends to themselves and friends to their friends. I was wrong, said Miss Nugent, to call myself a friend to Ireland. I meant to say that Ireland had been a friend to me, that I found Irish friends when I had no other, an Irish home when I had no other, that my earliest and happiest years,

under your kind care, had been spent there and that i can never forget that my dear aunt i hope you do not wish that i should heaven forbid my sweet grace said lady conbroni touched by her voice and manner heaven forbid i don't wish you to do or be anything but what you are for i am convinced there's nothing i could ask you would not do for me and i can tell you there's few things you could ask love i would not do for you a wish was instantly expressed in the eyes of her niece lady clonbroni though not usually quick at interpreting the wishes of others understood and answered before she ventured to make her request in words ask anything but that grace return to clonbrony while i am able to live in london that i never can or will do for you or anybody looking at her son in all the pride of obstinacy so there is an end of the matter go you where you please clamber and i shall stay where i please i suppose as your mother i have a right to say this much her son with the utmost respect assured her that he had no design to infringe upon her undoubted liberty of judging for herself, that he had never interfered except so far as to tell her circumstances of her affairs, with which she seemed to be totally unacquainted, and of which it might be dangerous to her

to continue in ignorance. "'Don't talk to me about affairs,' cried she, drawing her hand away from her son. Talk to my lord, or my lord's agents, since you are going to Ireland, about business. I know nothing about business, but this I know. I shall stay in England and be in London every season as long as I can afford it, and when I cannot afford to live here, I hope I shall not live anywhere. That's my notion of life, and that's my determination once for all. For if none of the rest of the Clan Brony family have any, I thank heaven I have some spirit.

Saying this with her most stately manner, she walked out of the broom. Lord Colamber instantly followed her, for after the resolution and the promise he had made, he did not dare to trust himself at this moment with Miss Nugent. There was to be a concert this night at Lady Clonbronies, at which Mrs. and Miss Broadhurst were, of course, expected, that they might not be quite unprepared for the event of her sons going to Ireland, Lady Clonbrony wrote a note to Mrs. Broadhurst, begging her to come half an hour earlier than the time mentioned in the cards, that she might talk over something particular that had just occurred. What passed at this Cabinet Council, as it seems to have had no immediate influence on

affairs, we need not record. Suffice it to observe that a great deal was said and nothing done. Miss Brothurst, however, was not a young lady who could be easily deceived, even where her passions were concerned. The moment her mother told her of Lord Calamber's intended departure, she saw the whole truth. She had a strong mind, was capable of. of drawing aside at once the curtain of self-delusion, and looking steadily at the skeleton of truth. She had a generous, perhaps because, a strong mind. For, surrounded as she had been from her childhood, by every means of self-indulgence which wealth and flattery could bestow, she had discovered early what few persons in her situation discovered till late in life,

that selfish gratifications may render us incapable of other happiness, but cannot never of themselves make us happy. Despising flatterers, she had determined to make herself friends to make them in the only possible way by deserving them. Her father made his immense fortune by the power and habit of constant, bold, and just calculation. The power and habit which she had learned from him, she applied on a far larger scale. With him it was confined to speculations for the acquisition of money.

with her it extended to the attainment of happiness. He was calculating and mercenary. She was estimative and generous. Miss Nugent was dressing for the concert, or rather was sitting half-dressed before her glass, reflecting, when Miss Broadhurst came into her room. Miss Nugent immediately sent her maid out of the room. Grace, said Miss Broadhurst,

looking at Grace with an air of open, deliberate composure, you and i are thinking of the same thing of the same person yes of lord calamber said miss nugent ingenuously and sorrowfully then i can put your mind at ease at once my dear friend by assuring you that i shall think of him no more that i have thought of him i do not deny i have thought that if notwithstanding the difference in our ages and other differences he had preferred me i should have preferred him to any person who has ever yet addressed me. On our first acquaintance I clearly saw that he was not disposed to pay court to my fortune, and I had also then coolness of judgment sufficient to perceive that it was not probable he should fall in love with my person. But I was too proud in my humility, too strong in my honesty, too brave, too ignorant.

In short, I knew nothing of the matter. We are all of us, more or less, subject to the delusions of vanity or hope. or love, I, even I, who thought myself so clear-sighted, did not know how, with one flutter of his wings, Cupid can set the whole atmosphere in motion, change the proportion, size, color, value of every object, lead us into a mirage, and leave us in a dismal desert. My dearest friend, said Miss Nugent, in a tone of true sympathy. But none but a coward or a friend. would sit down in the desert and weep instead of trying to make his way back before the storm rises obliterates the track and overwhelms everything poetry apart my dear grace you may be assured that i shall think no more of lord calamber

i believe you are right but i am sorry very sorry it must be so oh spare me your sorrow my sorrow is for lord colambur said miss nugent where will he find such a wife not in miss beryl i am sure pretty as she is a mere fine lady is it possible that lord calabber lord calamber should prefer such a girl lord calamber miss broadhurst looked at her friend as she spoke and saw truth in her eyes saw that she had no suspicion that she was herself the person beloved tell me grace are you sorry that lord calamber is going away no i am glad i was sorry when i first heard it but now i am glad very glad it may save him from a marriage unworthy of him restore him to himself and reserve him for him for his own worthy of him and reserve him for for the only woman I ever saw who is suited to him, who is equal to him, who would value and love him as he deserves to be valued and loved. Stop, my dear, if you mean me, I am not and I never can be that woman. Therefore, as you are my friend and wish my happiness, as I sincerely believe you do,

never I conjure you, present such an idea before my mind again. It is out of my mind, I hope, forever. it is important to me that you should know and believe this at least i will preserve my friends now let this subject never be mentioned or alluded to again between us my dear we have subjects enough of conversation we need not have recourse to pernicious sentimental gossipings there is a great difference between wanting a confidant and tweeting a friend with confidence my confidence you possess all that ought all that is to be known of my mind you know and now i will leave you in peace to dress for the concert oh don't go you don't interrupt me i shall be dressed in a few minutes stay with me and you may be assured that neither now nor at any other time shall i ever speak to you on the subject you desire me to avoid i entirely agree with you about confidants and sentimental gossipings i love you for

not loving them a thundering knock at the the door announced the arrival of company think no more of love but as much as you please of friendship dress yourself as fast as you can said miss broadhurst dress dress is the order of the day order of the day and order of the night and all for people i don't care for in the least said grace so life passes dear me miss nugent cried pettito lady conbroni's woman coming in with a face of alarm not dressed yet my lady has gone down and mrs broadhurst and my lady polcocks come and the honourable mrs trembleham and signor the italian singing gentleman has been walking up and down the apartments there by himself disconsolate this half-hour and i wondering all the time nobody rang for me but my lady dressed lord knows how without anybody oh merciful miss nugent if you could stand still for one single particle of a second so then i thought of stepping into miss nugent for the young ladies are talking so fast says i to myself at the door they will never know how time goes unless i give them a hint but now my lady is below there's no need to be sure to be nervous so we may take the thing quietly without being in a flustrum dear ladies is not this now a very sudden motion of our young lords for ireland let a mercy miss nugent i'm sure your motions is sudden enough and your dress behind is all i'm sure i can't tell how oh never mind said the young lady escaping from her. It will do very well.

Thank you, Petito. It will do very well, never mind, repeated Petito, muttering to herself as she looked after the ladies whilst they ran downstairs. I can't abide to dress any young lady who says, never mind, and it will do very well. That and her never talking to one confidentially or trusting one with the least bit of her secrets is the thing I can't put up with from Miss Nugent.

and Miss Broadhurst holding the pins to me as much as to say, do your business potato and don't talk. Now that's so impertinent as if one wasn't the same flesh and blood and had not as good a right to talk of everything and hear of everything as themselves. And Mrs. Broadhurst, too,

cabinet counselling with my lady and pursing up her city mouth when I come in and turning off the discourse to snuff forsooth as if I was an ignoramus to think they closeted themselves to talk of, snuff. Now, I think a lady of quality's woman has as good or right to be trusted with her lady's secrets as with her jewels. And if my lady Clonbroni was a real lady of quality, she'd know that, and consider the one as much my paraphernalia as the other. So I shall tell

my lady tonight, as I always do when she vexes me, that I never lived in an Irish family before and don't know the ways of it. Then she'll tell me she was born in Hawksfordshire, then i shall say with my saucy look oh was you my lady i always forget that you was an english woman then maybe she'll say forget you forget yourself strangely pettito then i shall say with a great deal of dignity if your ladyship thinks so my lady i'd better go and i desire no better than that she would take me at my word for my lady dashforts is a much better place i'm told and she's dying to have me i know And having formed this resolution, Petito concluded her apparently in terminable soliloquy, and went with my lord's gentleman into the antechamber to hear the concert and give her judgment on everything. As she peeped in through the vista of heads into the Apollo's saloon, for tonight the Alhambra was transformed into the Apollo's saloon,

she saw that whilst the company, rank behind rank in close semicircles, had crowded round the performers to hear a favorite singer, Miss Broadhurst and Lord Calamber were standing in the outer semicircle talking to one another earnestly. Now would Petito have given up her reversionary chance of the three nearly new gowns she expected from Lady Conbrony

in case she stayed, or in case she went, the reversionary chance of any dress of Lady Dashforts except her scarlet velvet, merely to hear what Miss Broadhurst and Lord Calamber were saying. Alas, she could only see their lips move, and of what they were talking, whether of music or love,

and whether the match was to be on or off, she could only conjecture. But the diplomatic style, having now descended to waiting-maids, Mrs. Petito talked to her friends in the ante-chamber with as mysterious and consequential an air and tone as a charger d'affaire, or as the lady of a charger-and-o.

de fere could have assumed. She spoke of her private belief, of the impression left upon her mind, and her confidential reasons for thinking as she did, of her having had it from the fountain's head, and of her fear of any committal of her authorities. Notwithstanding all these authorities, Lord Calamber left London next day and pursued his way to Ireland, determined that he would see and judge of that country for himself, and decide whether his mother's dislike to residing there was founded on caprice or reasonable causes. In the meantime, it was reported in London that his lordship was gone to Ireland to make out the title to some estate, which would be necessary for his marriage settlement with the great heiress Miss Broadhurst. Whether Mrs. Petito or Sir Terence O'Fay

had the greater share in raising and spreading this report, it would be difficult to determine. But it is certain, however, or by whomsoever raised, it was most useful to Lord Clonbroni by keeping his creditors quiet. End of Chapter 5. Chapter 6 of the absentee by Maria Edgeworth. This Librevox recording is in the public domain. The Tide did not permit the packet to reach the the pigeon-house, and the impatient Lord Calamber stepped into a boat and was rowed across the

bay of Beblon. It was a fine summer morning. The sun shone bright on the Wicklow Mountains. He admired, he exulted in the beauty of the prospect, and all the early associations of his childhood and the patriotic hopes of his riper years swelled his heart as he approached the shores of his native land. But scarcely had he touched his mother earth when the whole course of his ideas was changed, and if his heart swelled, it swelled no more with pleasurable sensations, for instantly he found himself surrounded and attacked by a swarm of beggars and harpies, with strange figures and stranger tones. Some craving his charity, some snatching away his luggage, and at the same time bidding him

never trouble himself and never fear. A scramble in the boat and on shore for bags and parcels began, and an amphibious fight betwixt men who had one foot on sea and one on land was seen, and long and loud the battle of trunks and portmanteaus raged. The vanquished departed, clinching their empty hands at their opponents,

and swearing inextinguishable hatred, while the smiling victors stood at ease, each grasping his booty, bag, basket, parcel, or portmanteau. And, Your Honor, where will these go? where will we carry a mile to for your honor was now the question without waiting for an answer most of the goods were carried at the discretion of the porters to the custom-house where to his lordship's astonishment after this scene of confusion he found that he had lost nothing but his patience all his goods were safe and a few tin pennies made his officious porter's happy men and boys blessings were showered upon his honor and he was left in peace at an excellent excellent hotel in Blank Street, Dublin. He rested, refreshed himself, recovered his good humor,

and walked into the coffee house, where he found several officers, English, Irish, and Scotch. One English officer, a very gentleman-like, sensible-looking man of middle age, was sitting reading a little pamphlet when Lord Palamber entered. He looked up from time to time, and in a few minutes rose and joined the conversation. It turned upon the beauties and defects of the city of Dublin. Sir James Brooke, for that was the name of the gentleman, showed one of his brother officers the book which she had been reading, observing that, in his opinion, it contained one of the best views of Dublin which she had ever seen, evidently drawn by the hand of a master, though in a slight, playful, and ironical style.

It was an intercepted letter from China. The conversation extended from Dublin to various, parts of Ireland, with all which Sir James Brooks showed that he was well acquainted. Observing that this conversation was particularly interesting to Lord Calamber, and quickly perceiving that he was speaking to one not ignorant of books, Sir James spoke of different representations and misrepresentations of Ireland. In answer to Lord Calamber's inquiries, he named the works which had afforded him most satisfaction, and with discriminative, not superficial, celestial celerity touched on all ancient and modern authors from spencer and davies to young and beaufort lord colambor became anxious to cultivate the acquaintance of a gentleman who appeared so able and willing to afford him information sir james brooke on his part was flattered by this eagerness of attention and pleased by our hero's manners and conversation so that to their mutual satisfaction they spent much of their time together whilst they were at this hotel

and meeting frequently in society in Dublin, their acquaintance every day increased and grew into intimacy, an intimacy which was highly advantageous to Lord Calamber's views of obtaining a just idea of the state of manners in Ireland. Sir Jamesbrook had at different periods been quartered in various parts of the country, had resided long enough in each to become familiar with the people, and had varied his residence sufficiently to form, comparisons between different counties, their habits, and characteristics. Hence, he had it in his power to direct the attention of our young observer, at once to the points most worthy of his examination, and to save him from the common error of

travellers, the deducing general conclusions from a few particular cases, or arguing from exceptions as if they were rules. Lord Palamber, from his family connections, had, of course, immediate introduction into the best society in Dublin, or rather into all the good society of Dublin. In Dublin there is positively good company and positively bad,

but not, as in London, many degrees of comparison, not innumerable luminaries of the polite world moving in different orbits of fashion, but all the bright plans of no tend name move and revolve in the same narrow limits lord colambor did not find that either his father's or his mother's representations of society in dublin resembled the reality which he now beheld lady clonbroni had in terms of detestation described dublin such as it appeared to her soon after the union lord clonbroni had painted it with convivial enthusiasm such as he saw long and long before the union when first he drank claret at the fashionable clubs this picture unchanged in his memory and unchangeable by his imagination had remained and ever would remain the same

the hospitality of which the father boasted the son found in all its warmth but mealurated and refined less convivial more social the fashion of hospitality had improved. To make the stranger eat or drink to excess, to set before him old wine and old plate, was no longer the sum of good breeding. The guest now escaped the pomp of grand entertainments, was allowed to enjoy ease and conversation, and to taste some of that feast of reason and that flow of soul so often talked of and so seldom enjoyed. Lord Calamber found a spirit of improvement, a desire for knowledge, and a taste for science and literature in most companies, particularly among gentlemen belonging to the Irish bar. Nor did he in Dublin society see any of that confusion of ranks or predominance of vulgarity,

of which his mother had complained. Lady Clonbrony had assured him that the last time she had been at the drawing-room at the castle, a lady whom she afterwards found to be a grocer's wife had turned angrily when her ladyship had accidentally trodden on her train and had exclaimed with a strong rogue i'll thank you ma'am for the rest of my tale sir james brook to whom lord calamber without giving up his authority mentioned the fact declared that he had no doubt the thing had happened precisely as it was stated but that this was one of the extraordinary cases which ought not to pass into a general rule, that it was a slight instance of that influence of temporary causes, from which no conclusions as to national manners should be drawn. I happened, continued Sir James,

to be quartered in Dublin soon after the Union took place, and I remember the great but transient change that appeared. From the removal of both houses of Parliament, most of the nobility and many of the principal families among the Irish commoners either hurried in high hopes to London or retired, disgusted and in despair, to their houses in the country. Immediately in Dublin, commerce rose into the vacated seats of rank, wealth rose into the place of earth. New faces and new equipages appeared.

People who had never been heard of before started into notice, pushed themselves forward not scrupling to elbow their way even at the castle and they were presented to my lord lieutenant and to my lady lieutenant for their excellencies for the time being might have played their vice-regal parts to empty benches had they not admitted such persons for the moment to fill their court those of former times of hereditary pretensions and high-bred minds and manners were scandalized at all this and they complained with justice that the whole tone of society was altered that the decorum elegance polish and charm of society was gone and i among the rest said sir james felt and deplored their change but now it is all over we may acknowledge that perhaps even those things which we felt most disagreeable at the time were productive of eventual benefit. Formerly, a few families had set the fashion. From time immemorial, everything had, in Dublin,

been submitted to their hereditary authority, and conversation, though it had been rendered polite by their example, was at the same time limited within narrow bounds. Young people, educated upon a more enlarged plan in time grew up, and no authority or fashion forbidding it necessarily rose to their just place and enjoyed their due influence in society. The want of manners, joined to the want of knowledge in the new set, created universal disgust. They were compelled, some by ridicule, some by bankruptcies, to fall back into their former places, from which they could never more emerge. In the meantime,

some of the Irish nobility and gentry, who had been living at an unusual expense in London, an expense beyond their incomes, were glad to return home to refit, and they brought with them a new stock of ideas and some taste for science and literature, which, within these latter years, have become fashionable, even indispensable in London. That part of the Irish aristocracy, who, immediately upon the first incursions of the Vulgarians of the Vulgarians, had fled in despair to their fastnesses in the country hearing of the improvements which had gradually taken place in society and assured of the final expulsion of the barbarians ventured from their retreats and returned to their posts in town so that now concluded sir james you find a society in dublin composed of a most agreeable and salutary mixture of birth and education mentality and knowledge manner and matter and you see pervading the whole new life and energy new talent new ambition a desire and a determination to improve and be improved

a perception that higher distinction can now be obtained in almost all company by genius and merit than by airs and dress so much for the higher order now among the class of tradesmen and and shopkeepers, you may amuse yourself, my lord, with marking the difference between them and persons of the same rank in London. Lord Calamber had several commissions to execute for his English friends, and he made it his amusement in every shop to observe the manners and habits of the people. He remarked that there are in Dublin two classes of tradespeople. One who go into business with intent to make it their occupation for life and as a slow but sure means of providing for themselves and their families another class who take up trade merely as a temporary resource to which they condescend for a few years trusting that they shall in that time make a fortune retire and commence or recommence gentlemen

the irish regular men of business are like all other men of business punctual frugal careful and so forth with the addition of more intelligence invention and enterprise than are usually found in englishmen of the same rank but the dublin tradesmen pro temporee are a class by themselves they begin without capital buy stock upon credit in hopes of making large profits and in the same hopes sell upon credit. Now, if the credit they can obtain is longer than that which they are forced to give, they go on and prosper. If not, they break, turn bankrupts, and sometimes as bankrupts, thrive. By such men, of course, every shortcut to fortune is followed, whilst every habit which requires time to prove its advantage is disregarded. Nor, with such views, can a character for puny, have its just value. In the head of a man who intends to be a tradesman today and a gentleman tomorrow, the ideas of the honesty and the duties of a tradesman and of the honor and the

accomplishments of a gentleman are oddly jumbled together, and the characteristics of both are lost in the compound. He will oblige you, but he will not obey you. He will do you a favor, but he will not do you justice. He will do anything to serve you, but the particular thing you order, he neglects. He asks your pardon, for he would not for all the goods in his warehouse disoblides you, not for the sake of your custom,

but he has a particular regard for your family. Economy, in the eyes of such a tradesman, is, if not a mean vice, at least a shabby virtue, which he is too polite to, respect his customers of, and particularly proud to prove himself superior to. Many London tradesmen, after making their thousands and their tens of thousands, feel pride in still continuing to live like plain men of business.

But from the moment a Dublin tradesman of this style has made a few hundreds, he sets up his gig and then his head is in his carriage and not in his business. when he has made a few thousands, he buys or builds a country house, and then, and thence forward, his head, heart, and soul are in his country house, and only his body in the shop with his customers. Whilst he is making money, his wife, or rather his lady, is spending twice as much out of town as he makes in it. At the word country house, let no one figure to himself a snug little box, like

that in which a warm london citizen after long years of toil indulges himself one day out of seven in repose enjoying from his gazebo the smell of the dust and the view of passing coaches on the london road no these hibernian villas are on a much more magnificent scale some of them formerly belonged to irish members of parliament who are at a distance from their country seats after the union these were bought by citizen and tradesmen who spoiled by the mixture of their own fancies what had originally been designed by men of good taste some time after lord calambor's arrival in dublin he had an opportunity of seeing one of these villas which belonged to mrs raffertie a grocer's lady and sister to one of lord clonbroni's agents mr nicholas garrity lord colamber was surprised to find that his father's agent resided in dublin he had been used to see agents or stewards as they are called in england live in the country and usually on the estate of which they have the management mr nicholas garrity however had a handsome house in a fashionable part of dublin lord calamber called several times to see him but he was out of town receiving rents for some other gentleman as he was agent for more than one property though our hero had not the honour of seeing mr garretty he had the pleasure of finding mrs rafferty one day at her brother's house just as his lordship came to the door she was going on her jaunting car to her villa called tusculum situate near bray she spoke much of the beauties of the vicinity of dublin found his lordship was going with sir james brooke and a party of gentlemen to see the county of Wicklow, and his lordship and party were entreated to do her the honour of taking, in his way,

a little collation at Tusculum. Our hero was glad to have an opportunity of seeing more of a species of fine lady with which he was unacquainted. The invitation was verbally made and verbally accepted, but the lady afterwards thought it necessary to send a written invitation in due form, and the note she sent directed to the most right honourable the Lord Viscount Colamber. On opening it, he perceived that it could not have been intended for him. It ran as follows. My dear Juliana O'Leary, I have got a promise from Colamber that he will be with us at Tusculum on Friday the 20th in his way from the County of Wicklow for the collation I mentioned,

and expect a large party of officers, so pray come early with your house or as many as the jaunting car can bring and pray my dear be elegant you need not let it transpire to mrs o g but make my apologies to miss o g if she says anything and tell her i'm quite concerned i can't ask her for that day because tell her i'm so crowded and am to have none that day but real quality yours ever and ever anastasia rafferty p s and i hope to make this gentlemen stop the night with me so will not have beds excuse haste and compliments etc tusculum sunday the fifteenth after a charming tour in the county of wicklow where the beauty of the natural scenery and the taste with which those natural beauties had been cultivated far surpassed the sanguine expectations lord calamber had formed his lordship and his companions arrived at tusculum where he found mrs rafferty and miss juliana o'leary and miss juliana o'leary very elegant, with the large party of the ladies and gentlemen of Bray, assembled in a drawing-room, fine with bad pictures and gaudy gilding. The windows were all shut, and the company were playing cards with all their might.

This was the fashion of the neighborhood. In compliment to Lord Calamber and the officers, the ladies left the card tables, and Mrs. Rafferty, observing that his lordship seemed partial to walking, took him out, as she said, said, to do the honors of nature and art. His lordship was much amused by the mixture, which was now exhibited to him, of taste and incongruity, ingenuity and absurdity, genius and blunder, by the contrast between the finery and vulgarity, the affectation and ignorance of the lady of the villa.

We should be obliged to stop too long at Tusculum, were we to attempt to detail all the odd circumstances of this visit, but we may record an example or two which may give a sufficient idea of the whole. In the first place, before they left the drawing-room, Miss Juliana O'Leary pointed out to his lordship's attention a picture over the drawing-room chimney-piece. "'Is not yet a fine piece, my lord,' said she, naming the price Mrs. Rafferty had lately paid for it at an auction.

it has a right to be a fine piece indeed for it cost a fine price nevertheless this fine piece was a vile daub and our hero could only avoid the sin of flattery or the danger of offending the lady by protesting that he had no judgment in pictures indeed i don't pretend to be a connoisseur or connozante myself but i'm told the style is undeniably modern and was not i lucky juliana not to let that madonna be knocked down to me i was just goin to bid when i heard such smart bidden but fortunately the auctioneer let out that it was done by a very old master a hundred years old oh you are most obedient thinks i if that's the case is not for more money, so I bought this in lieu of the smoke-droid thing, and had it at a bargain. In architecture, Mrs. Rafferty had as good a taste and as much skill as in painting. There had been a handsome portico in front of the house, but this interfering with the lady's desire to have a veranda, which she said could not be dispensed with, she had raised the whole portico to the second story where it stood, or seemed to stand,

upon a tarpaulin roof. But Mrs. Rafferty explained that the pillars, though they looked so properly substantial, were really hollow and as light as feathers, and were supported with cramps, without disobliging the front wall of the house at all to signify. Before she showed the company any farther, she said, she must premise to his lordship

that she had been originally stinted in room for her improvements, so that she could not follow her genius liberally, she had been reduced to have some things on a confined scale and occasionally to consult her pocket compass but she prided herself upon having put as much into a light pattern as could well be that had been her whole ambition study and problem for she was determined to have at least the honour of having a little taste of everything at tusculum so she led the way to a little conservatory and a little pinery and a little grapery and a little grapery and a little a little aviary and a little pheasantry and a little dairy for show and a little cottage for ditto with a grotto full of shells and a little hermitage full of earwigs and a little ruin full of looking-glass to enlarge and multiply the effect of the gothic but you could only put your head in because it was just fresh painted and though there had been a fire ordered in the ruin all night it had only smoked in all mrs rafferty's buildings whether ancient or modern there was a studied crookedness yes she said she hated everything straight it was so formal and unpicturesque uniformity and conformity she observed had their day but now thanked the stars of the present day irregularity and deformity bear the bell and have the majority

as they proceeded and walked through the grounds from which mrs rafferty though she had done her best could not take that which nature had given she pointed out to my lord a happy moving termination consisting of a chinese bridge with the fishermen leaning over the rails on a sudden the fisherman was seen to tumble over the bridge into the water the gentleman ran to extricate the poor fellow while they heard mrs rafferty bawling to his lordship to beg he would never mind and not trouble himself when they arrived at the bridge they saw the man hanging from part of the bridge and apparently struggling in the water but when they attempted to pull him up they found it was only a stuffed figure which had been pulled into the stream by a real fish which had seized hold of the bait mrs rafferty vexed by the fisherman's fall and by the laughter it occasioned did not recover herself sufficiently to be happily ridiculous during the remainder of the walk nor till dinner was announced when she apologized for having changed the collation that first intended into a dinner which she hoped would be found no bad substitute and which she flattered herself might prevail on my lord and the gentleman to sleep as there was no moon the dinner had two great faults profusion and pretension there was in fact ten times more on the table than was necessary and the entertainment was far above the circumstances of the person by whom it was given for instance the dish of fish at the head of the table had been brought across the island from slygo and had cost five guineas as the lady of the house not to make known but after all things were not of a piece there was a disparity between the entertainment and the attendance there was no proportion or fitness of things a painful endeavour at what could not be attained and a toiling in vain to conceal and repair deficiencies and blunders had the mistress of the house been quiet had she as mrs broadhurst would say but let things alone let things take their course all would have passed off with well-bred people,

but she was incessantly apologizing and fussing and fretting inwardly and outwardly, and directing and calling to her servants, striving to make a butler who was deaf, a boy who was hair-brained, do the business of five accomplished footmen of parts and figure. The mistress of the house called for, plates, clean plates, hot plates!

But none did come when she did call for them. mrs rafferty called lanty lanty my lord's plate there james bread to captain bulls james port wine to the major james james james kenny james and panting james toiled after her in vain at length one course was fairly got through and after a torturing half-hour the second course appeared and james kenny was intent upon one thing and lanty upon another so that the wine-sauce for the hair was spilt by their collision but what was worse there seemed little chance that the whole of this second course should ever be placed altogether rightly upon the table mrs rafferty cleared her throat and nodded and pointed and sighed and set lanty after kenny and kenny after lanty for what one did the other undid and at last the lady's anger kindled and she spoke kenny james kenny set the sea-cale at this corner and put down the grass-cross corners, and match your macaroni yonder with them puddance, said, oh, James, the pyramid in the middle, can't she?

The pyramid in changing places was overturned. Then it was that the mistress of the feast, falling back in her seat and lifting up her hands and eyes in despair, ejaculated, oh, James, James. The pyramid was raised by the assistance of the military engineers and stood trembling again on its base, but the lady's temper could not be so easily restored to its equilibrium. The comedy of errors which this day's visit exhibited

amused all the spectators. But Lord Calamber, after he had smiled, sometimes sighed. Similar foibles and follies in persons of different rank, fortune, and manner appear to common observers so unlike that they laugh without scorn. grouples of conscience in one case at what in another ought to touch themselves most nearly it was the same desire to appear what they were not the same vain ambition to vie with superior rank and fortune or fashion which actuated lady clonbroni and mrs rafferty and whilst this ridiculous grocer's wife made herself the sport of some of her guests lord calambur sighed from the reflection that what she was to them, his mother was to persons in a higher rank of fashion. He sighed still more deeply when he considered that,

in whatever station or with whatever fortune, extravagance, that is, the living beyond our income, must lead to distress and meanness and end in shame and ruin. In the morning, as they were riding away from Tusculum and talking over their visit, the officers laughed heartily and rallying lord calamber upon his seriousness accused him of having fallen in love with mrs rafferty or with the elegant miss juliana our hero who wished never to be nice over much or serious out of season laughed with those that laughed and endeavoured to catch the spirit of the jest but sir james brooke who now was well acquainted with his countenance and who knew something of the history of his family understood his real feelings and sympathizing in them endeavored to give the conversation a new turn look there bulls said he as they were just riding into the town of bray look at the barouche standing at that green door at the farthest end of the town is not that lady dashfort's barouche

it looks like what she sported in dublin last year said bulls but you don't think she'd give us the same two seasons besides she's not in ireland is she i did not hear of her intending to come over again i beg your pardon said another officer she will come again gain to so good a market to marry her other daughter. I heard she said, or swore, that she will marry the young widow, Lady Isabel, to an Irish nobleman. Whatever she says she swears, and whatever she swears she'll do, replied Bowles. Have a care, my Lord Calamber. If she sets her heart upon you for Lady Isabel, she has you. Nothing can save you. Heart, she has none, so there you're safe, my lord, said the other officer. But if Lady Isabel sets her eye upon you, no basilisks is surer.

But if Lady Dashfort had landed, I am sure we should have heard of it, for she makes noise enough wherever she goes, especially in Dublin, where all she said and did was echoed and magnified till one could hear of nothing else. I don't think she has landed. I hope to heaven they may never land again in Ireland,

cried Sir David. James Brooke. One worthless woman, especially one worthless English woman of rank, thus incalculable mischief in a country like this, which looks up to the sister country for fashion. For my own part, as a warm friend to Ireland, I would rather see all the toads and serpents and venomous reptiles that St. Patrick carried off in his bag come back to this island than these two dashers. why they would bite half the women and girls in the kingdom with the rage for mischief before half the husbands and fathers could turn their heads about and once bit there's no cure in nature or art no horses to this barouche cried captain bowles pray sir whose carriage is this said the captain to a servant who was standing beside it my lady dashfort sir it belongs to answered the servant in rather a surly english

own, and turning to a boy who was lounging at the door, Pat, bid them bring out the horses, for my ladies is in a hurry to get home. Captain Bowles stopped to make his servant alter the girths of his horse, and to satisfy his curiosity, and the whole party halted. Captain Bowles beckoned to the landlord of the inn who was standing at his door. So, Lady Dashfort is here again? This is Herber Rouge is not it? Yes, sir. She is.

It is. And has she sold her fine horses? Oh, no, sir. This is not her carriage at all. She is not here. That is, she is here in Ireland, but down in the county of Wicklow, on a visit. And this is not her own carriage at all.

That is to say, not that which she has with herself, driving, but only just the caste barouche-like, as she keeps for the ladies' maids. For the ladies' maids, that is good. that is new faith sir james do you hear that indeed then and it's true and not a word of a lie said the honest landlord and this minute we've got a directory of five of them abigail's sittin within in our house as fine ladies as great dashers too every bit as their principles and kicking up as much dust on the road every grain think of them now the likes of them that must have four horses and would not stir a foot with one less as the gentleman gentlemen's gentlemen there was tellin and boasted to me about now when the barouche was ordered for them there at the lady's house where lady dash fort is on a visit they said they would not get in till they'd get four horses and their ladies backed them and so the four horses was got and they just drove out here to see the points of view for fashion's sake like their betters and up with their glasses like their ladies and then out with their watches and isn't it time to lunch so there they have been luncheon within on what they brought with

them for nothing in our house could they touch of course they brought themselves a picnic lunch with madeira and champagne to wash it down ay gentlemen what do you think but a set of them as they were bragging to me turned out of a borden house at cheltenham last year because they had not peach poys to their lunch but here they come shawls and veils and all streamers flyin but mum is my cue captain are these girths to your fancy now said the low landlord aloud. Then, as he stooped to alter a buckle, he said in a voice meant to be heard only by Captain Bowles, if there's a tongue, male or female, in the three kingdoms, it's in that foremost woman, Mrs. Petito. Mrs. Petito, repeated Lord Calamber as the name caught his ear, and approaching the Baruch in which the five Abbegales were now seated, he saw the identical Mrs. Petito, who, when he left London, had been in his mother's service. She recognized his lordship with very gracious intimacy, and before he had time to ask any questions,

she answered all she conceived he was going to ask, and with a volubility which justified the landlord's eulogium of her tongue. Yes, my lord, I left, my lady Clonbrony some time back, the day after you left town, and both her ladyship and Miss Nugent was charmingly, and would have sent their loves to your lordship, I'm sure, if they'd any notion I should have met you, my lord, so soon. And I was very sorry to part with them, but the fact was, my lord, said Mrs. Petito,

laying a detaining hand upon Lord Calamber's whip, one end of which he unwittingly trusted within her reach. I and my lady had a little difference, which the best friends, you know, sometimes have, so my lady clandroney was so condescending to give me up to my lady dash fort and i knew no more than the child unborn that her ladyship had it in contemplation to cross the seas but to oblige my lady and as colonel heathcock with his regiment of militia was coming for protection in the packet at the same time and we to have the government yacht i waved my objections to ireland and indeed though i was greatly frighted at first having heard all we've heard you know my lord from lady conbrony of there being no living in ireland and expecting to see no trees nor accommodation nor anything but bogs all along yet i declare i was very agreeably surprised for as far as i've seen at dublin and in the vicinity the accommodations and everything of that nature now is vastly put up a bow-width my lord said sir james brook we shall be late lord calamber shortly withdrawing his whip from mrs

Petito turned his horse away. She, stretching over the back of the barouche, as he rode off, bawled to him. My lord, we're at Stevens Green when we're at Dublin. But as he did not choose to hear, she raised her voice to its highest pitch, adding, and where are you, my lord, to be found, as I have a parcel of Miss Nugent's for you? Lord Calamber instantly turned back and gave his direction. cleverly done faith said the major i did not hear her say when lady dashfort is to be in town said captain bulls what bulls have you a mind to lose more of your guineas to lady dashfort and to be jockeyed out of another horse by lady isabel oh confound it no i'll keep out of the way of that i've had enough said captain bulls it is my lord colambor's turn now you hear that lady dashfort would be very proud to see him him his lordship is in for it and with such an auxiliary as mrs pettito lady dashfort has him for lady isabel as sure as he has a heart or hand my compliments to the ladies but my heart is engaged said lord calamber and my hand shall go with my heart or not at all engaged engaged to a very amiable charming woman no doubt said sir james brooke i have an excellent excellent opinion of your taste, and if you can return the compliment to my judgment,

take my advice. Don't trust to your heart's being engaged, much less plead that engagement, for it would be Lady Dashfort's sport and Lady Isabel's joy to make you break your engagement and break your mistress's heart. The fairer, the more amiable, the more beloved, the greater the triumph, the greater the delight in giving pain. all the time love would be out of the question neither mother nor daughter would care if you were hanged or as lady dashfort would herself have expressed it if you were damned with such women i should think a man's heart could be in no great danger said lord calamber there you might be mistaken my lord there's a way to every man's heart which no man in his own case is aware of

but which every woman knows right well and none better than these ladies by his vanity true said captain bowles i am not so vain as to think myself without vanity said lord calammer but love i should imagine is a stronger passion than vanity you should imagine stay till you are tried my lord excuse me said captain bulls laughing lord calamber felt the good sense of this and determined to have nothing to do with these dangerous ladies indeed though he had talked he had scarcely yet thought of them for his imagination was intent upon that packet from miss nugent which mrs petito said said she had for him. He heard nothing of it, or of her, for some days. He sent his servant every day to Stevens Green to inquire if Lady Dashfort had returned to town. Her ladyship at last returned, but Mrs. Petito could not deliver the parcel to any hand but Lord Calamber's own, and she would not stir out because her lady was indisposed. No longer able to restrain his impatience, Lord Calamber went, himself, knocked at Lady Dashfort's door, inquired for

Mrs. Petito, was shown into her parlour. The parcel was delivered to him, but to his utter disappointment it was a parcel for, not from, Miss Nugent. It contained merely an odd volume of some book of Miss Nugent's which Mrs. Petito said she had put up along with her things in a mistake, and she thought it her duty to return it by the next opportunity of a safe conveyance. Whilst Lord Calamber, to comfort himself for his disappointment, was fixing his eyes upon Miss Nugent's name, written by her own hand in the first leaf of the book, the door opened, and the figure of an interesting-looking woman in deep mourning appeared, appeared for one moment and retired.

Only my Lord Calamber about a parcel I was bringing for him from England, my lady, my lady Isabel, my lord, said Mrs. Petito. Whilst Mrs. Petito was saying this, the entrance and retreat had been made, and made with such dignity,

grace and modesty, with such innocence, dove-like eyes had been raised upon him, fixed and withdrawn, with such a gracious bend that the Lady Isabel had bowed to him as she retired, with such a smile, and with so soft a voice, had repeated, Lord Calamber,

that his lordship, though well aware that all this was mere acting, could not help saying to himself as he left the house, it is a pity it is only acting. There is certainly something very engaging in this woman. It is a pity she is an actress, and so young, a much younger woman than I expected. A widow before most women are wives. So young, surely, she cannot be such a fiend as they described her to be. A few nights afterwards, Lord Calamber was with some of his acquaintance at the theatre, when Lady Isabel and her mother came into the box, where seats had been reserved for them, and where their appearance instantly made that sensation which is usually created by the entrance of persons of the first notoriety in the fashion of the fashion

world. Lord Calamber was not a man to be dazzled by fashion, or to mistake notoriety for deference paid to merit and for the admiration commanded by beauty or talents. Lady Dashfort's coarse person, loud voice, daring manners, and indelicate wit disgusted him almost past endurance. He saw Sir James Brooke in the box opposite to him, and twice determined to go round to him. His lordship had crossed the benches, and once his hand was upon the lock of the door, but attracted as much by the daughter

as repelled by the mother, he could move no farther. The mother's masculine boldness heightened by contrast, the charms of the daughter's soft sentimentality. The Lady Isabel seemed to shrink from the indelicacy of her mother's manners and seemed peculiarly distressed

by the strange efforts Lady Dashfort made from time to time to drag her forward and to fix upon her the attention of gentlemen. Colonel Heathcock, who, as Mrs. Petito had informed Lord Calamber, had come over with his regiment to Ireland, was beckoned into their box by Lady Dashfort, by her squeezed into a seat next to Lady Isabel, but Lady Isabel seemed to feel sovereign contempt, properly repressed by politeness,

for what, in a low whisper to a female friend on the other side of her, she called the self-sufficient inanity of this sad coxcomb. Other coxcombs of a more vivacious style, who stationed themselves round her mother, or to whom her mother stretched from box to box to talk, seemed to engage no more of Lady Isabel's attention than just what she was compelled to give by Lady Dashfort's repeated calls of isabel isabel colonel g isabel lord d bowing to you bell bell sir harry b isabel child with your eyes on the stage did you never see a play before novice major p waiting to catch your eye this quarter of an hour and now her eyes gone down to her play bill sir harry do take it from her were eyes so radiant only made to read lady isabel appeared to suffer so exquisitely and so naturally from this persecution that lord colambor said to himself if this be acting it is the best acting i ever saw if this be art it deserves to be nature and with this sentiment he did himself the honor of handing lady isabel to her carriage this night and with this sentiment he awoke next morning and by the time he had dressed and breakfasted he determined that it was impossible all that he had seen could be acting

no woman no young woman could have such art sir james brooke had been unwarrantably severe he would go and tell him so but sir james's brook had been unwarrantably severe he would go and tell him so but sir james brooke this day received orders for his regiment to march to quarters in a distant part of ireland his head was full of arms and ammunition and knapsacks and billets and brutes and there was no possibility even in the present chivalrous disposition of our hero to enter upon the defence of the lady isabel indeed in the regret he felt for the approaching and unexpected departure of his friend lord calamber forgot the fair lady. But just when Sir James had his foot in the stirrup, he stopped. By the by, my dear Lord, I saw you at the play last night. You seemed to be much interested. Don't think me impertinent, if I remind you of our conversation when we were riding home from Tusculum, and if I warn you, said he, mounting his horse, to beware of counterfeits, for such are abroad. Reining in his impregning his impatient steed, Sir James turned again and added,

Deeds not words, is my motto. Remember, we can judge better by the conduct of people towards others than by their manner towards ourselves. End of Chapter 6. Chapter 7 of the absentee by Mariah Edgeworth. This Libre Fox recording is in the public domain. Our hero was quite convinced of the good sense of his friend's last remark, that it is safer to judge of people by their conduct to others than by their manners towards ourselves. But as yet, he felt scarcely any interest on the subject of Lady Dashford or Lady Isabel's characters.

However, he inquired and listened to all the evidence he could obtain respecting this mother and daughter. He heard terrible reports of the mischief they had done in families, the extravagance into which they had led men, the imprudence to say no word, into which they had betrayed women. Matches broken off, reputations ruined, husbands alienated from their wives, and wives made jealous of their husbands. But in some of these stories,

he discovered exaggeration so flagrant as to make him doubt the whole. In others, it could not be positively determined whether the mother or daughter had been the person most to blame. Lord Palamber always followed the charitable rule of believing only half what the world says, and here he thought it fair to believe which half he pleased. He further observed that, though all joined in abusing these ladies in their absence,

when present they seemed universally admired, though everybody cried shame and shocking, yet everybody visited them, no parties so crowded as Lady Dashforts, no party deemed pleasant or fashionable where Lady Dashfort or Lady Isabel, was not. The bon mo of the mother were everywhere repeated, the dress and air of the daughter everywhere imitated. Yet Lord Calamber could not help being surprised at their popularity in Dublin,

because, independently of all moral objections, there were causes of a different sort, sufficient, he thought, to prevent Lady Dashford from being liked by the Irish, indeed by any society. She, in general, affected to be ill-bred and inattentive to the feelings and opinions of others, careless whom she offended by her wit or by her decided tone.

There are some persons in so high a region of fashion that they imagine themselves above the thunder of vulgar censure. Lady Dashfort felt herself in this exalted situation, and fancied she might hear the innocuous thunder roll below. her rank was so high that none could dare to call her vulgar what would have been gross in any one of meaner note in her was freedom or originality or lady dashfort's way it was lady dashfort's pleasure and pride to show her power in perverting the public taste she often said to those english companions with whom she was intimate now see what follies i can lead these fools into hear the nonsense I can make them repeat as wit. Upon some occasion one of her friends ventured to fear

that something she had said was too strong. Too strong, was it? Well, I like to be strong. Woe be to the weak. On another occasion she was told that certain visitors had seen her ladyship yawning. Yon, did I? Glad of it.

The yawn sent them away, or I should have snored. Rude was I? they won't complain. To say I was rude to them would be to say that I did not think it worth my while to be otherwise. Barbarians, are not we the civilized English come to teach them manners and fashions? Whoever does not conform and swear allegiance to, we shall keep out of the English pale. Lady Dashford forced her way, and she set the fashion. fashion, which converts the ugliest dress into what is beautiful and charming, governs the public mode in morals and in manners.

And thus, when great talents and high rank combine, they can debase or elevate the public taste. With Lord Palamber, she played more artfully. She drew him out in defense of his beloved country and gave him opportunities of appearing to advantage. this he could not help feeling especially when the lady isabel was present lady dashfort had dealt long enough with human nature to know that to make any man pleased with her she should begin by making him pleased with himself insensibly the antipathy that lord calamber had originally felt to lady dashfort wore off her faults he began to think were assumed he pardoned her defiance of good breeding when he observed that she could, when she chose it, be most engagingly polite.

It was not that she did not know what was right, but that she did not think it always for her interest to practice it. The party opposed to Liddy Dashfort affirmed that her whip depended merely on unexpectedness, a characteristic which may be applied to any impropriety of speech, manner, or conduct. In some of her ladyship's repartees, however, Lord Calamber now acknowledged there was more than unexpectedness, there was real wit, but it was of a sort utterly unfit for a woman, and he was sorry that Lady Isabel should hear it. In short, exceptional as it was altogether, Lady Dashfort's conversation had become entertaining to him, and though he could never esteem or feel in the least

interested about her, he began to allow that she could be agreeable. "'I, I knew how it would be,' said she, when some of her friends told her this. He began by detesting me, and did I not tell you that if I thought it worth my while to make him like me he must, sooner or later. I delight in seeing people begin with me, as they do with always, making all manner of horrid faces and silly protestations that they will never touch an olive again as long as they live but after a little time these very folk grow so desperately fond of olives that there is no dessert without them isabel child you are in the sweet line but sweets cloy you never heard of anybody living on marmalade did she lady isabel answered by a sweet smile to do you justice you play lydia languish vastly well pursued the mother but lydia by herself would soon tire somebody must keep up the spirit and bustle and carry on the plot of the piece and i am that

somebody, as you shall see. Is not that our hero's voice which I hear on the stairs? It was, Lord Calamber. His lordship had by this time become a constant visitor at Lady Dashforts. Not that he had forgotten, or that he meant to disregard his friend, Sir James Brooks' parting words, he promised himself faithfully that if anything should occur to give him reason to suspect designs, such as those to which the warning pointed, he would be on his guard and would prove his generalship by an able retreat. But to imagine attacks where none were attempted, to suspect ambuscades in the open country would be ridiculous and cowardly. No, thought our hero, heaven forfend, I should be such a coxcomb as to fancy every woman who

speaks to me as designs upon my precious heart or on my more precious estate. As he walked from his hotel to Lady Dashfort's house, ingeniously wrong, he came to this conclusion, just as he ascended the stairs and just as her ladyship had settled her future plan of operations. After talking over the nothings of the day, and after having given two or three cuts at the Society of Dublin, with two or three compliments to individuals who she knew were favorites with his lordship, she suddenly turned to him. My lord, I think you told me, or my own sagacity discovered, that you want to see something of Ireland, and that you don't intend, like most travellers, to turn round, see nothing,

and go home content. Lord Calamber assured her ladyship that she had judged him rightly. for that nothing would content him but seeing all that was possible to be seen of his native country. It was for this special purpose he came to Ireland. Ah, well, very good purpose can't be better. But now how to accomplish it? You know the Portuguese proverb says, You go to hell for the good things you intend to do,

and to heaven for those you do. Now let us see what you will do. Dublin, I suppose you've seen enough of by this time, through and through, round and round. This makes me first giddy and then sick. Let me show you the country, not the face of it, but the body of it, the people. Not Castle this or Newtown that, but their inhabitants. I know them. I have the key or the picklock to their minds.

An Irishman is as different an animal on his guard, and off his guard as a miss in school from a miss out of school a fine country for game i'll show you and if you are a good marksman you may have plenty of shots at folly as it flies lord calambor smiled as to isabel pursued her ladyship i shall put her in charge of heathcock who is going with us she won't thank me for that but you will nay no fibs man you know i know as you know as who does not that has seen the world, that though a pretty woman is a mighty pretty thing, yet she is confoundedly in one's way when anything else is to be seen, heard, or understood. Every objection anticipated and removed, and so far a prospect held out of attaining all the information he desired, with more than all the amusement he could have expected, Lord Calamber seemed much tempted to accept the invitation, but he hesitated because,

as he said, her ladyship might be going to pay visits where he was not acquainted. Bless you, don't let that be a stumbling block in the way of your tender conscience. I am going to Kilpatrick's town, where you'll be as welcome as light. You know them, they know you, at least you shall have a proper letter of invitation from my lord and my lady Kilpatrick and all that. And as to the rest, you know a young man is always welcome everywhere, a young nobleman kindly welcome i won't say such a young man and such a young nobleman for that might put you to your bows or your blushes but nobilitas by itself nobility is enough in all parties in all families where there are girls and of course balls as there are always at kilpatrick's town don't be alarmed you shall not be forced to dance or asked to marry i'll be your security you shall be

be at full liberty, and it is a house where you can do just what you will. Indeed, I go to know others. These Kilpatricks are the best creatures in the world. They think nothing good or grand enough for me. If I let them, they would lay down cloth of gold over their bogs for me to walk upon. Good-hearted beings, added Lady Dashfort, marking a cloud gathering on Lord Calamber's countenance. I laugh at them because I love them. I could not love anything i might not laugh at your lordship accepted so you'll come that's settled and so it was settled our hero went to kilpatrick's town everything here sumptuous and unfinished you see said lady dashfort to lord calamber the day after their arrival all begun as if the projectors thought they had the command of the minds of peru and ended as if the possessors had not sixpence des arrangement provisatoire temporary expedients in plain english makeshifts luxuries enough for an english prince of the blood comforts not enough for an english woman

and you may be sure that great repairs and alterations have gone on to fit this house for our reception and for our english eyes poor people english visitors in this point of view are horribly expensive to the irish did you ever hear that in the last century or in the century before the last to put my story far enough back so that it shall not touch anybody living when a certain english nobleman lord blank a sent to let his irish friend lord blank b know that he and all his train were coming over to pay him a visit the irish nobleman blank b knowing the deplorable condition of his castle sat down fairly to cal whether it would cost him most to put the building in good and sufficient repair fit to receive these english visitors or to burn it to the ground he found the balance to be in favour of burning which was wisely accomplished next day perhaps kilpatrick would have done well to follow this example resolve me which is worst to be burnt out of house and home or to be eaten out of house and home in this house above and below stairs including first and second table housekeeper's room ladiesmaids room butler's room and gentlemen's one hundred and four people sit down to dinner every day as potato informs me beside kitchen boys and what they call char women who never sit down but who do not eat or waste the less for that and retainers and friends friends to the fifth and sixth generation who must get their bit and their bit and their sup for sure it's only biddy they say continued lady dashfort imitating their irish brogue and sure tis nothing at all out of all his honour my lord has how could he feel it long life to him he's not that way not a couple in all ireland and that saying a great dale looks less after their own nor is more off-handeder or open-hearteder or greater open housekeepers nor my lord and my lady kilpatrick now there's encouragement for a lord and a lady to ruin themselves lady dashfort imitated the irish brogue in perfection boasted that she was mistress of fourteen different brogues and had brogues for all occasions by her mixture of mimicry sarcasm exaggeration and truth she succeeded continually in making lord colambor laugh at everything at which she wished to make him laugh at every thing but not everybody

whenever she became personal he became serious or at least endeavoured to become serious and if he could not instantly resume the command of his risible muscles he reproached himself it is shameful to laugh at these people indeed lady dashfort in their own house these hospitable people who are entertaining us entertaining us true and if we are entertained how can we help laughing all expostulation was thus turned off by a jest as it was her pride to make lord calamber laugh in spite of his better feelings and principles this he saw and this seemed to him to be her sole object but there he was mistaken off-handed as she pretended to be none dealt more in the impromptu fat alo lazier and mentally short-sighted as she affected to be none had more long animity for their own interest it was her settled purpose to make the irish and ireland ridiculous and contemptible to lord colambor to disgust him with his native country to make him abandon the wish of residing on his own estate to confirm him an absentee was her object previously to her ultimate plan of marrying him to her daughter her daughter was poor she would therefore be glad to get an irish peer for her but would be very sorry she said to see isabel banished to ireland and the young widow declared she could never bring herself to be buried alive in clonbroni castle in addition to these considerations lady dashfort received certain hints from mrs pittito which worked all to the same point

why yes my lady i heard a great deal about all that when i was at lady clonbronys said pittito one day as she was attending at her lady's toilette and encouraged to begin chattering and i own i was originally under the universal error that my lord calamber was to be married to the great heiress miss broadhurst but I have been converted and reformed on that score, and am at present quite in another way and style of thinking. Petito paused, in hopes that her lady would ask what was her present way of thinking. But Lady Dashfort, certain that she would tell her without being asked, did not take the trouble to speak, particularly as she did not choose to appear violently interested on the subject. my present way of thinking resumed pettito is in consequence of my having with my own eyes and ears witnessed and overheard his lordship's behaviour and words the morning he was coming away from london for ireland when he was morally certain nobody was up nor overhearing nor overseeing him there did i notice him my lady stopping in the ante-chamber ejaculating over one of me Miss Nugent's gloves, which he had picked up. Limerick, said he, quite loud to himself, for it was a limerick glove, my lady.

Limerick, dear Ireland, she loves you as well as I do, or words to that effect, and then a sigh and downstairs and off. So, thinks I, now the cat's out of the bag, and I wouldn't give much myself for Miss Broadhurst's chance of that young lord, with all her bank-stock, scrip and omnum now i see how the land lies and i'm sorry for it for she's no fortin and she's so proud she never said a hint to me of the matter but my lord calambor is a sweet gentleman and pittito don't run on so you must not meddle with what you don't understand the miss kilpatrick's to be sure are sweet girls particularly the youngest her ladyship's toilette was finished and she left Petito to go down to my Lady Kilpatrick's woman to tell, as a very great secret, the schemes that were in contemplation among the higher powers in favour of the youngest of the Miss Kilpatricks.

So, Ireland is at the bottom of his heart, is it? repeated Lady Dashfort to herself. It shall not be long so. From this time forward, not a day, scarcely an hour, but her ladyship did or said something to depreciate the country or its inhabitants in our hero's estimation. With treacherous ability, she knew and followed all the arts of misrepresentation, all those injurious arts which his friend, Sir James Brooke, had with such honest indignation reprobated. She knew how, not only to seize the ridiculous points, to make the most respectable people ridiculous, but she knew how to select the worst instances, the worst exceptions,

and to produce them as examples, as precedents, from which to condemn whole classes and establish general false conclusions respecting a nation. In the neighborhood of Kilpatrickstown, Lady Dashford said, there were several squirenes, or little squires, a race of men who have succeeded to the Bukines described by Young and Crump. squireines are persons who with good long leases or valuable farms possess incomes from three to eight hundred a year who keep a pack of hounds take out a commission of the peace sometimes before they can spell as her ladyship said and almost always before they know anything of law or justice busy and loud about small matters jobbers at the sizes combining with one another and trying upon every occasion

public or private, to push themselves forward to the annoyance of their superiors and the terror of those below them. In the usual course of things, these men are not often to be found in the society of gentry, except perhaps among those gentlemen or noblemen who like to see hangers-on at their tables, or who find it for their convenience to have underling magistrates to protect their favorites, or to propose and carry jobs for them on grant juries. At election times, however, these persons rise into sudden importance

with all who have views upon the county. Lady Dashfort hinted to Lord Kilpatrick that her private letters from England spoke of an approaching dissolution of Parliament. She knew that upon this hint, a round of invitations would be sent to the Squirenes, and she was morally certain that they would be more disagreeable to Lord Calamber and give him a worse idea of the country than any other people who could be produced.

Day after day some of these personages made their appearance, and Lady Dashfort took care to draw them out upon the subjects on which she knew that they would show the most self-sufficient ignorance and the most illiberal spirit. This succeeded beyond her most sanguine expectation, expectations. Lord Calamber, how I pity you for being compelled to these permanent sittings after dinner, said Lady Isabel to him one night when he came late to the ladies from the dining-room. Lord Kilpatrick insisted upon my staying to help him to push about that

never-ending, still-beginning, a lectioneering bottle, said Lord Calamber. Oh, if that were all, if these gentlemen would only drink, but their conversation, I don't wonder my mother dreads returning to Clonbrony Castle if my father must have such company as this. But surely it cannot be necessary. Oh, indispensable! Positively indispensable, cried Lady Dashfort. No living in Ireland without it. You know, in every country in the world, you must live with the people of the country or be torn to pieces.

For my part, I should prefer being torn to pieces. Lady Dashfort and Lady Isabel knew how to take advantage of the contrast between their own conversation and that of the persons by whom Lord Calamber was so justly disgusted. They happily relieved his fatigue with wit, satire, poetry, and sentiment, so that he every day became more exclusively fond of their company. For Lady Kilpatrick and the Miss Kilpatrick's were mere commonplace people. In the mornings he rode or walked, walked with Lady Dashfort and Lady Isabel.

Lady Dashfort, by way of fulfilling her promise of showing him the people, used frequently to take him into the cabins and talk to their inhabitants. Lord and Lady Kilpatrick, who had lived always for the fashionable world, had taken little pains to improve the condition of their tenants. The few attempts they had made were injudicious. They had built ornamented, picturesque cottages within view of their domain, and favorite followers of the family, people with half a century's habit of indolence and dirt, were promoted to these fine dwellings. The consequences were such as Lady Dashfort

delighted to point out, everything let to go to ruin for the want of a moment's care, or pulled to pieces for the sake of the most trifling surreptitious profit. The people most assisted always appearing proportionally wretched and discontented. No one could, with more ease and more knowledge of her ground than Lady Dashfort, do the dishonour of a country. In every cabin that she entered, by the first glance of her eye at the head, kerchiefed in no comely guise, or by the drawn-down corners of the mouth,

or by the bit of a broken pipe, which in Ireland never characterizes stout labour, or by the first sound of the voice, the drawing accent on Your Honor or My Lady, she could distinguish the proper objects of her charitable designs, that is to say, those of the old uneducated race whom no one can help because they will never help themselves. To these she constantly addressed herself, making them give, in all their despairing tones,

a history of their complaints and grievances, then asking them questions aptly contrived to expose their habits of self-contradiction their servility and flattery one moment and their litigious and encroaching spirit the next thus giving lord calamber the most unfavourable idea of the disposition and character of the lower class of the irish people lady isabel the while standing by with the most amiable air of pity with expressions of the finest moral sensibility, softening all her mother said, finding ever some excuse for the poor creatures, and following with angelic sweetness to heal the wounds her mother inflicted. When Lady Dashfort thought she had sufficiently worked upon Lord Calamber's mind to weaken his enthusiasm for his native country, and when Lady Isabel had, by the appearance of every virtue, added to a delicate preference, if not partiality for our hero, ingratiated herself

into his good opinion and obtained an interest in his mind. The wily mother ventured an attack of a more decisive nature, and so contrived it was that if it failed, it should appear to have been made without design to injure, and in total ignorance. One day, Lady Dashfort, who in fact was not proud of her family, though she pretended to be so, had herself prevailed on, though with much difficulty, by Lady Kilpatrick, to do the very thing she wanted to do, to show her genealogy, which had been beautifully blazoned, and which was to be produced as evidence in the lawsuit that brought her to Ireland. Lord Calamber stood politely looking on and listening, while her ladyship explained the

splendid intermarriages of her family, pointing to each medallion that was filled gloriously with noble and even with royal names, till at last she stopped short, and covering one medallion with her finger, she said, "'Pass over that, dear Lady Kilpatrick. You are not to see that, Lord Calamber. That's a little blot in our scutcheon. You know, Isabel, we never talk of that prudent match of great Uncle John's. What could he expect by marrying into that family, where you know all the men were not Saint-Pair, and none of the women, sans reproche?

Oh, Mama, cried Lady Isabel. Not one exception? Not one, Isabel, persisted Lady Dashford. There was Lady Blank and the other sister that married the man with the long. nose and the daughter again of whom they contrived to make an honest woman by getting her married in time to a blue ribbon and who contrived to get herself into doctor's commons the very next year well dear mamma that is enough and too much oh pray don't go on cried lady isabel who had appeared very much distressed during her mother's speech you don't know what you are saying indeed ma'am you don't very likely child but that compliment i can return to you on the spot and with interest for you seem to me at this instant not to know either what you are saying or what you are doing come come explain

oh no ma'am pray say so no more i will explain myself another time nay there you are wrong isabel in point of good breeding anything is better than hints and mystery since i have been so unlucky as to touch upon the subject, better go through with it, and with all the boldness of innocence, ask the question. Are you, my Lord Calamber, or are you not, related or connected with any of the St. Omar's? Not that I know of, said Lord Calamber, but I really am so bad a genealogist that I cannot answer positively. Then I must put the substance of my question into a new form. have you or have you not a cousin of the name of nougent miss nugent grace nougent yes said lord calamber with as much firmness of voice as he could command and with as little change of countenance as possible but as the question came upon him so unexpectedly it was not in his power to answer with an air of absolute indifference and composure and her mother was said lady

Dashfort. My aunt, by marriage, her maiden name was Reynolds, I think, but she died when I was quite a child. I know very little about her. I never saw her in my life, but I am certain she was a Reynolds. Oh, my dear Lord, continued Lady Dashfort, I am perfectly aware that she did take and bear the name of Reynolds, but that was not her maiden name. Her maiden name was, but perhaps it is a family secret that has been kept for some good reason from you and from the poor girl herself the maiden name was st omar depend upon it nay i would not have told this to you my lord if i could have conceived that it would affect you so violently pursued lady dashfort in a tone of raillery

you see you are no worse off than we are we have an intermarriage with the saint omars i did not think you would be so much shocked at a discovery which you would be so much shocked at a discovery which you are you are you are you are not think you would be so much shocked at a discovery which proves that our family and yours have some little connection. Lord Calamber endeavored to answer and mechanically said something about, happy to have the honor. Lady Dashfort, truly happy to see that her blow had hit the mark so well, turned from his lordship without seeming to observe how seriously he was affected. And Lady Isabel sighed and looked with compassion on Lord Calamber, and then reproachfully at her mother. But Lord Calamber heeded not her looks and heard not of her size. He heard nothing, saw nothing, though his eyes were intently fixed on the genealogy, on which Lady Dashfort was still descanting to Lady Kilpatrick. He took

the first opportunity he could of quitting the room and went out to take a solitary walk. there he is departed but not in peace to reflect upon what has been said whispered lady dashfort to her daughter i hope it will do him a vast deal of good none of the women sans reproach none without one exception said lord colamber to himself and grace nudgeon's mother a saint omar is it possible lady dashfort seems certain she could not assert a positive falsehood no motive she does not know that miss nugent is the person to whom i am attached she spoke at random and i have heard it first from a stranger not from my mother why was it kept secret from me now i understand the reason why my mother evidently never wished that i should think of miss nugent why she always spoke so vehemently against the marriages of relations of cousins why not tell me the truth it would have had the strong effect had she known my mind. Lord Colamber had the greatest dread of marrying any woman whose mother had conducted herself ill.

His reason, his prejudices, his pride, his delicacy, and even his limited experience were all against it. All his hopes, his plans of future happiness were shaken to their very foundation. He felt as if he had received a blow that stunned his mind. and from which he could not recover his faculties. The whole of that day he was like one in a dream. At night, the painful idea continually recurred to him, and whenever he was falling asleep,

the sound of Lady Dashfort's voice returned upon his ear, saying the words, what could he expect when he married one of the Saint-Omar's? None of the women sang rapproche. In the morning he wrote, early, and the first thing he did was to write the letter to his mother, requesting, unless there was some important reason for her declining to answer the question, that she would immediately relieve his mind from a great uneasiness. He altered the word four times,

but at last left it uneasiness. He stated what he had heard, and besought his mother to tell him the whole truth without reserve. End of chapter seven. Chapter 8 of the absentee by Mariah Edgeworth. This Lubrevox recording is in the public domain. One morning Lady Dashfort had formed an ingenious scheme for leaving Lady Isabel and Lord Calamber, Tete-a-Tat. But the sudden entrance of Heathcock disconcerted her intentions. He came to beg Lady Dashfort's interest with Count O'Halloran for permission to hunt and shoot on his grounds. not for myself upon honour but for two officers who are quartered at the next town here who will indubitably hang or drown themselves if they are debarred from sporting

who is this count o'haleran said lord calamber miss white lady kilpatrick's companion said he was a great oddity lady dashfort that he was singular and the clergyman of the parish who was at breakfast declared that he was a man of uncommon knowledge merit and politeness. All I know of him, said Heathcock, is that he is a great sportsman with a long hue, a gold-laced hat, and long skirts to a laced waistcoat. Lord Calamber expressed a wish

to see this extraordinary personage, and Lady Dashfort to cover her former design, and perhaps thinking absence might be as effectual as too much propinquity, immediately offered to call upon the officers in their way, and carry them with Heathcock and Lord Calamber to Halloran Castle. Lady Isabel retired with much mortification, but with becoming grace, and Major Benson and Captain Williamson were taken to the counts.

Major Benson, who was a famous whip, took his seat on the box of the barouche, and the rest of the party had the pleasure of her ladyship's conversation for three or four miles. of her ladyship's conversation, for Lord Calamber's thoughts were far distant. Captain Williamson had not anything to say, and Heathcock nothing but,

eh, really now, pawn on her. They arrived at Halloran Castle, a fine old building, part of it in ruins and part repaired, with great judgment and taste. When the carriage stopped, a respectable-looking man-servant appeared on the steps at the open hall door.

count o'haleran was out to hunting but his servant said that he would be at home immediately if lady dashfort and the gentleman would be pleased to walk in on one side of the lofty and spacious hall stood the skeleton of an elk on the other the perfect skeleton of a moose deer which as the servant said his master had made out with great care from the different bones of many of this curious species of deer found in the lake in the neighborhood. The brace of officers witnessed their wonder with sundry strange oaths and exclamations. Huh, upon honor, really now, said Heathcock, and too genteel to wonder at or admire anything in the creation, dragged out his watch with some difficulty, saying, I wonder now whether they are likely to think of giving us anything to eat in this place. And turning his back upon the moose deer, the moose deer he straight walked out again upon the steps called to his groom and began to make some inquiry about his lead horse lord calamber surveyed the prodigious skeletons with rational curiosity

and with that sense of awe and admiration by which a superior mind is always struck on beholding any of the great works of providence come my dear lord said lady dashfort with our sublime sensations we are keeping my old friend mr uleck brady this venerable person waiting to show us into the reception-room the servant bowed respectfully more respectfully than servants of modern date my lady the reception-room has been lately painted the smell of paint may be disagreeable with your leave i will take the liberty of showing you into my master's study he opened the door went in before her and stood holding up his finger as if making a signal of silence to some one within her ladyship entered and found herself in the midst of an odd assembly an eagle a goat a dog an otter several gold and silver fish in a glass globe and a white mouse in a cage the eagle quick of eye but quiet of demeanour was perched upon his stand the otter lay under the table perfectly harmless, the Angora Goat, a beautiful and remarkably little creature of its kind, with long, curling, silky hair, was walking about the room with the air of a beauty and a favorite. The dog, a tall Irish greyhound, one of the few of that fine race, which is now almost extinct,

had been given to Count O'Halloran by an Irish nobleman, a relation of Lady Dashforts. This dog, who had formerly known her ladyship, looked at. at her with years erect, recognized her and went to meet her the moment she entered. The servant answered for the peaceable behavior of all the rest of the company of animals and retired. Lady Dashfort began to feed the eagle from a silver plate on his stand. Lord Palamber examined the inscription on his collar. The other men stood in a maze. Heathcock, who came in last, astonished out of his constant, eh, really now,

the moment he put himself in at the door exclaimed zounds what's all this live lumber and he stumbled over the goat who was at that moment crossing the way the colonel's spur caught in the goat's curly beard the colonel shook his foot and entangled the spur worse and worse the goat struggled and butted the colonel skated forward on the polished oak floor balancing himself with outstretched arms the indignant eagle screamed and passing by perched on heathcock's shoulders too well bred to have recourse to the terrors of his beak he scrupled not to scream and flap his wings about the colonel's ears lady dashfort the while threw herself back in her chair laughing and begging heathcock's pardon oh take care of the dog my dear colonel cried she for this kind of dog seizes his enemy by the back and shakes him to death the officers holding their sides laughed and begged no pardon while lord calamber the only person who was not absolutely incapacitated tried to disentangle the spur and to liberate the colonel from the goat and the goat from the colonel an attempt in which he at last succeeded at the expense of a considerable portion of the goat's beard the eagle however still kept his place and yet mindful of the wrongs of his insulted friend the goat had stretched his wings to give another buffet count o'haleran entered and the bird quitting his prey flew down to greet his master the count was a fine old military-looking gentleman fresh from the chase his hunting accoutrements hanging carelessly about him he advanced unembarrassed to the lady and received his other guests with a mixture of military ease and gentleman-like dignity

without adverting to the awkward and ridiculous situation in which he had found poor heathcock he apologized in general for his troublesome favorites for one of them said he patting the head of the dog which lay quiet at lady dashfort's feet oi see i have no need to apologize he is where he ought to be poor fellow he has never lost his taste for the good company to which he was early accustomed as to the rest said he turning to Lady Dashfort, a mouse, a bird, and a fish, or you know, tribute from earth, air and water, for my conqueror. But from no barbarous Scythian, said Lord Calamber, smiling. The Count looked at Lord Calamber as at a person worthy his attention, but his first care was to keep the peace between his loving subjects and his foreign visitors. It was difficult to dislodge the old settlers to make room for the newcomers, but he adjusted these things with admirable facility, and with a master's hand and master's eye, compelled each favorite to retreat

into the back settlements. With becoming attention, he stroked and kept quiet old victory, his eagle, who eyed Colonel Heathcock still as if he did not like him, and whom the colonel eyeed as if he wished his neck fairly wrung off. The little goat had nestled himself close up to his liberator, Lord Calamber, and lay perfectly quiet, with his eyes closed, going very wisely to sleep, and submitting philosophically to the loss of one half of his beard. Conversation now commenced, and was carried on by Count O'Halloran with much ability and spirit, and with such quickness of discrimination and delicacy of taste,

as quite surprised and delighted our hero to the lady the count's attention was first directed he listened to her as she spoke bending with an air of deference and devotion she made her request for permission for major benson and captain williamson to hunt and shoot in his grounds this was instantly granted her ladyship's requests were to him commands the count said his gamekeeper should be instructed to give the gentleman her friend friends, every liberty, and all possible assistance. Then, turning to the officers, he said he had just heard that several regiments of English militia had lately landed in Ireland. That one regiment was arrived at Kilpatrickstown. He rejoiced in, The Advantage's Ireland, and he hoped he might be permitted to add, England would probably derive from the exchange of the militia of both countries. Habits would be improved, ideas enlarged. The two countries have to be improved. The two countries

the same interest, and from the inhabitants discovering more of each other's good qualities and interchanging little good offices in common life, their esteem and affection for each other would increase and rest upon the firm basis of mutual utility. To all this Major Benson and Captain Williamson made no reply. The Major looks so like a stuffed man of straw, whispered Lady Dashfort to Lord Calamber, and the captain so like the nave of clubs putting forth one manly leg. Count O'Halloran now turned the conversation to field sports, and then the captain and major opened at once.

Pray now, sir, said the major, you fox hunt in this country, I suppose, and now do you manage the thing here as we do? Overnight, you know, before the hunt when the fox is out, stopping up the earths of the cover we mean to draw, and all the rest for four miles round. Next morning we assemble at the cover's side and the huntsman throws in the hounds.

The gossip here is no small part of the entertainment, but as soon as we hear the hounds give tongue, the favorite hounds, interposed Williamson. The favorite hounds, to be sure, continued Benson, there is a dead silence till pug is well out of cover and the whole pack well in, then shear the hounds with tally-ho till your lungs crack. away he goes in gallon style and the whole field is hard up till pug takes a stiff country then they who haven't pluck leg see no more of him and with a fine blazing scent there are but few of us in at the death

well we are fairly in at the death i hope said lady dashfort i was thrown out sadly at one time in the chase lord calamber with the count's permission took up a book in which the count's pencil lay pay on the military policy of great britain it was marked with many notes of admiration and with hands pointing to remarkable passages that is a book that leaves a strong impression on the mind said the count lord calamber read one of the marked passages beginning with all that distinguishes a soldier in outward appearance from a citizen is so trifling but at this instant our hero's attention was distracted by seeing in a black-letter book this title of a chapter, Burial Place of the Nugents. Pray now, sir, said Captain Williamson, if I don't interrupt you, as you are such a famous fox-hunter, maybe you may be a fisherman, too.

And now, in Ireland, do you, Mr.—a smart pinch on his elbow from his major, who stood behind him, stopped the captain short, as he pronounced the word Mr. like all awkward people he turned directly to ask by his looks what was the matter the major took advantage of his discomfiture and stepping before him determined to have the fishing to himself and went on with count o'haleran i presume you understand fishing too as well as hunting the count bowed i do not presume to say that sir but pray count in this country do you arm your hook this ways give me leave taking the whip from williamson's reluctant hand this ways laying the outermost part of your feather this fashion next to your hook and the point next to your shank this wise and that wise and then sir count you take the hackle of a cock's neck a plover's toppings better said williamson and work your gold and silver thread pursued benson up to your wings and when your heads made you fasten all but you never showed how your heads made interrupted williamson the gentleman knows how a head's made any man can make a head i suppose so sir you fasten all you'll never get your head fast on that way while the world stands cried williamson

fast enough for all purposes i'll bet you a rump and dozen captain and then sir count you divide your wings with a needle a pin's point will do said williamson the count to reconcile matters produced from an indian cabinet which he had opened for the ladies inspection a little basket containing a variety of artificial flies of curious construction which as he spread them on the table made williamson and benson's eyes almost sparkle with delight there was the dun fly for the month of march and the stone fly much in vogue for april and the ruddy fly of red wool black silk and red capon feathers lord calamber whose head was in the burial place of the nudgeance wished them all at the bottom of the sea and the green fly and the moorish fly cried benson snatching them up with transport and chief the sad yellow fly in which the fish delight in june the sad yellow fly made with the buzzards wings bound with black-baked hemp and the shell fly for the middle of july made of greenish wool wrapped about with the hurl of a peacock's tale famous for creating excellent sport all these and more were spread upon the table before the sportsmen's wondering eyes capital flies capital faith cried williamson treasures faith real treasures by god cried benson eh on honor really now were the first words which heathcock had uttered since his battle with the goat my dear Heathcock, are you alive still? said Lady Dashfort. I had really forgotten your existence. So had Count O'Halloran, but he did not say so.

Your ladyship has the advantage of me there, said Heathcock, stretching himself. I wish I could forget my existence, for in my mind existence is a horrible bore. I thought you was a sportsman, said Williamson. Well, sir? and a fisherman? Well, sir? Why, look you there, sir, pointing to the flies, and tell a body life's a bore.

One can't always fish or shoot, I apprehend, sir, said Heathcock. Not always, but sometimes, said Williamson, laughing, for I suspect shrewdly you forgot some of your sporting in Bond Street. Hmm, pawn honour, really now, said the Colonel, retreating again to his safe entrenchment of affectation, from which he never could venture without imminent danger. "'Pon honour,' cried Lady Dashfort,

"'I can swear for Heathcock "'that I have eaten excellent hairs and ducks of his shooting.' "'Which to my knowledge,' added she, in a loud whisper, "'he bought in the market. "'emptum-Aprum,' said Lord Palamber to the Count, without danger of being understood by those whom it concerned. The Count smiled a second time, but politely turning the attention of the company

from the unfortunate colonel by addressing himself to the laughing sportsmen. Gentlemen, you seem to value these, said he, sweeping the artificial flies from the table into the little basket from which they had been taken. Would you do me the honor to accept of them? They are all of my own making, and consequently of irish manufacture then ringing the bell he asked lady dashfort's permission to have the basket put into her carriage

benson and williamson followed the servant to prevent them from being tossed into the boot heathcock stood still in the middle of the room taking snuff count o'haler turned from him to lord calamber who had just got happily to the burial place of the nudgeons when and Lady Dashfort coming between them and spying the title of the chapter exclaimed, What have you there? Antiquities! My delight! But I never look at engravings when I can see realities. Lord Calamber was then compelled to follow, as she led the way into the hall, where the Count took down golden ornaments and brass-headed spears and jointed horns of curious workmanship that had been found on his estate, and he told of spermaceti wrapped in carpets, and he showed small urns and closing ashes, and from among these urns he selected one, which he put into the hands of Lord Calamber, telling him that it had been lately found

in an old abbey ground in his neighborhood, which had been the burial place of some of the Nugent family. I was just looking at the account of it in the book which you saw open on my table and as you seem to take an interest in that family my lord perhaps said the count you may think this earn worth your acceptance lord calamber said it would be highly valuable to him as the nudgeons were his near relations lady dashfort little expected this blow she however carried him off to the moose deer and from moose deer to round towers to various architectural and to the real and fabulous history of ireland on all which the count spoke with learning and enthusiasm but now to colonel heathcock's great joy and relief a handsome collation appeared in the dining-room of which ulek opened the folding doors count you have made an excellent house of your castle said lady dashfort it will be when it is finished said the count i am afraid at he, smiling, I live like many other Irish gentlemen, who never are, but always to be, blessed with a good house. I began on too large a scale and can never hope to live to finish it.

"'Pon honour, here's a good thing which I hope we shall live to finish,' said Heathcock, sitting down before the collation, and heartily did he eat of gross pie, and of Irish Ortalans, which, as Lady Dashfort observed, afforded him indemnity for the past and security for the future. Really now, your Irish Ortelands are famous good eating, said Heathcock. Worth being quartered in Ireland faith to taste them, said Benson. The Count recommended to Lady Dashfort some of that delicate sweetmeat, the Irish plum. Bless me, sir, Count, cried Williamson.

it's by far the best thing of the kind i ever tasted in all my life where could you get this in dublin at my dear mrs goadies where only in his majesty's dominions it is to be had said the count the whole dish vanished in a few seconds upon honor i do believe this is the thing the queen's so fond of said heathcock then heartily did he drink of the count's excellent hungarian wines and by the common bond of sympathy between those who have no other tastes but eating and drinking the colonel the major and the captain were now all the best companions possible for one another whilst they prolonged the rich repast lady dashfort and lord calais went to the window to admire the prospect lady dashford asked the count the name of some distant hill ah said the count that hill was once covered with fine wood but it was all cut down two years ago who could have been so cruel said her ladyship i forget the present proprietor's name said the count but he is one of those who according to the clause of distress in their leases lead drive and carrieve away but never enter their lands one of those enemies to ireland these cruel absentees lady dashfort looked through her glass at the mountain lord calamber sighed and endeavouring to pass it off with a smile said frankly to the count you are not aware i am sure count that you are speaking to the son of an irish absentee family nay do not be shocked my dear sir i tell you only because i thought it failed to do so, but let me assure you that nothing you could say on that subject could hurt me personally,

because I feel that I am not, but I never can be an enemy to Ireland, an absentee voluntarily I never yet have been, and as to the future, I declare, I declare you know nothing of the future, interrupted Lady Dashfort in a half-peremptory, half-playful tone. You know nothing, Make no rash bows, and you will break none. The undaunted assurance of Lady Dashfort's genius for intrigue gave her an air of Frank Imprudence, which prevented Lord Calamber from suspecting that more was meant than met the ear. The counten he took leave of one another with mutual regard,

and Lady Dashfort rejoiced to have got our hero out of Halloran Castle. end of chapter eight chapter nine of the absentee by maria edgeworth this librivox recording is in the public domain lord colambra had waited with great impatience for an answer to the letter of inquiry which he had written about miss nugin's mother a letter from lady clonbroni arrived he opened it with the greatest eagerness passed over rheumatism warm weather warm bath buxton balls miss broadhurst your friend friend, Sir Arthur Barrel, very assiduous. The name of Grace Nugent he found at last, and read as follows. Her mother's maiden name was Saint Omar, and there was a faux-paw, certainly.

She was, I am told, for it was before my time, educated at a convent abroad, and there was an affair with the Captain Reynolds, a young officer, which her friends were obliged to hush up. She brought an infant to England with her, and took the name of Reynolds, but none of that family would acknowledge her, and she lived in great obscurity

till your uncle Nugent saw, fell in love with her, and, knowing her whole history, married her. He adopted the child, gave her his name, and after some years the whole story was forgotten. Nothing could be more disadvantageous to grace

than to have it revived. This is the reason we kept it secret. Lord Calamber tore the love. letter to bits. From the perturbation which Lady Dashford saw in his countenance, she guessed the nature of the letter which he had been reading, and for the arrival of which he had been so impatient. It has worked, said she to herself. For le coup Philippe, I detain.

Lord Colamber appeared, this day, more sensible than he had ever yet seemed to the charms of the fair Isabel. many a tennis-ball and many a heart is caught at the rebound said lady dashfort isabel now is your time and so it was or so perhaps it would have been but for a circumstance which her ladyship with all her genius for intrigue had never taken into her consideration count o'haleran came to return the visit which had been paid to him and in the course of conversation he spoke of the officers who had been introduced to him and told Lady Dashfort that he had heard a report which shocked him much. He hoped it could not be true, that one of these officers had introduced his mistress as his wife

to Lady Oranmore, who lived in the neighborhood. This officer, it was said, had let Lady Oranmore send her carriage for this woman and that she had dined at Oran Moore with her ladyship and her daughters. But I cannot believe it. I cannot believe it to be possible, that any gentleman, that any officer, could do such a thing, said the Count. And is this all? exclaimed Lady Dashfort. Is this all the terrible affair, my good Count,

which has brought your face to this prodigious length? The Count looked at Lady Dashfort with astonishment. such a look of virtuous indignation continued she did i never behold on or off the stage forgive me for laughing count but believe me comedy goes through the world better than tragedy and take it all in all does rather less mischief as to the thing in question i know nothing about it i dare say it is not true but now suppose it was it is only a silly quiz of a raw young officer upon a brutal old dowager i know nothing about it for my part but after all what irreparable mischief has been done laugh at the thing and then it is a jest a bad one perhaps but still only a jest and there's an end of it but take it seriously and there's no knowing where it might end in half a dozen jewels maybe of that madam said the count lady oren moore's prudence and presence of mind have prevented all danger her ladyship would not understand the insult she said or she acted as if she said jean no veer ryevroar rin cooetetre rin savoire lady orin more is one of the most respectable count i beg your pardon interrupted lady dashfort but i must tell you that your favourite lady oranmore has behaved very ill to me purposely omitted to invite is

to her ball offended and insulted me her praises therefore cannot be the most agreeable subject of conversation you can choose for my amusement and as to the rest you who have such variety and so much politeness will i am sure have the goodness to indulge my caprice in this instance i shall obey your ladyship and be silent whatever pleasure it might give me to speak on that subject said the count and I trust Lady Dashfort will reward me by the assurance that, however playfully she may have just now spoken, she seriously disapproves and is shocked. Oh, shocked! Shocked to death, if that will satisfy you, my dear Count. The Count obviously was not satisfied.

He had civil as well as military courage, and his sense of right and wrong could stand against the raillery and ridicule of a fine lady. The conversation ended. Lady Dashfort thought it would have no further consequences, and she did not regret the loss of a man like Count O'Halloran, who lived retired in his castle, and who could not have any influence upon the opinion of the fashionable world. However, upon turning from the Count to Lord Calamber,

who she thought had been occupied with Lady Isabel, and to whom she imagined all this dispute was uninterested, she perceived by his countenance that she had made a great mistake. Still, she trusted that her power over Lord Calamber was sufficient easily to efface whatever unfavorable impression this conversation had made upon his mind. He had no personal interest in the affair, and she had generally found that people are easily satisfied

about any wrong or insult, public or private, in which they have no immediate concern. but all the charms of her conversation were now tried in vain to reclaim him from the reverie into which he had fallen his friend sir james brooke's parting advice occurred to our hero his eyes began to open to lady dashfort's character and he was from this moment freed from her power lady isabel however had taken no part in all this she was blameless and independently of her mother, and in pretended opposition of sentiment, she might have continued to retain the influence she had gained over Lord Calamber, but that a slight accident revealed to him her real disposition. It happened on the evening of this day that Lady Isabel came into the library with one of the young ladies of the house talking very eagerly

without perceiving Lord Calamber, who was sitting in one of the recesses reading. My dear creature, you are quite mistaken, said Lady Isabel. He was never a favorite of mine. I always detested him. I only flirted with him to plague his wife. Oh, that wife, my dear Elizabeth, I do hate, cried she, clasping her hands and expressing hatred with all her soul and with all her strength. I detest that Lady DeCressy to such a degree that to purchase the pleasure of making her feel the pangs of jealousy for one hour, look, I would this moment lay down this finger and let it be cut off. The face, the whole figure of Lady Isabel at this moment, appeared to Lord Calamber, suddenly metamorphosed. Instead of the soft, gentle, amiable female, all-sweet charity and tender sympathy,

to love and to be loved, he beheld one possessed and convulsed by an evil spirit. Her beauty, if beauty, it could be called, the beauty of a fiend. Some ejaculation which she unconsciously uttered made Lady Isabel start. She saw him, saw the expression of his countenance, and knew that all was over. Lord Calamber, to the utter astonishment and disappointment of Lady Dashforth, and to the still greater mortification of Lady Isabel, announced this night that it was necessary he should immediately pursue his tour in Ireland.

We pass over all the castles in the air which the young ladies of the family had built and which now fell to the ground. We pass all the civil speeches of Lord and Lady Kilpatrick, all the vehement remonstrances of Lady Dashfort, and the vain sighs of Lady Isabel. to the last moment lady dashfort said he will not go but he went and when he was gone lady dashfort exclaimed that man has escaped from me and after a pause turning to her daughter she in the most taunting and contemptuous terms reproached her as the cause of this failure concluding by a declaration that she must in future manage her own affairs and had best settle her

mind to marry Heathcock, since everyone else was too wise to think of her. Lady Yusobal, of course, retorted, but we leave this amiable mother and daughter to recriminate inappropriate terms, and we follow our hero, rejoiced that he has been disentangled from their snares. Those who have never been in similar peril will wonder much that he did not escape sooner. Those who have ever been in like danger will wonder more that he escaped at all. Those who are best acquainted with the heart or imagination of man will be most ready to acknowledge that the combined charms of wit, beauty, and flattery may for a time suspend the action of right reason in the mind of the greatest philosopher, or operate against the resolutions of the

greatest of heroes. Lord Calamber pursued his way to Castle Halloran, desirous before he quitted this part of the country, to take leave of the Count, who had shown him much civility, and for whose honorable conduct and generous character he had conceived the high esteem, which no little peculiarities of antiquated dress or manner could diminish. Indeed, the old-fashioned politeness of what was formerly called a well-bred, gentleman pleased him better than the indolent or insolent selfishness of modern men of the tonne. Perhaps notwithstanding our hero's determination to turn his mind from everything connected with the idea of Miss Nugent, some latent curiosity about the burial place of the Nugent's might have operated to make him call upon the count.

In this hope he was disappointed, for Across Miller, whom the abbey ground was let on which the burial-place was found had taken it into his head to refuse admittance and none could enter his ground count o'haleran was much pleased by lord colambor's visit the very day of lord calambor's arrival at halloran castle the count was going to oranmar he was dressed and his carriage was waiting therefore lord colambor begged that he might not detain him and the count requested his lordship to accompany him let me have the honor of introducing you my lord to a family with whom i am persuaded you will be pleased by whom you will be appreciated and at whose house you will have an opportunity of seeing the best manner of living of the irish nobility lord colambor accepted the invitation and was introduced at oranmar the dignified appearance and respectable character of lady oranmore the charming, unaffected manners of her daughters, the air of domestic happiness and comfort in her family, the becoming magnificence free from ostentation in her whole establishment, the respect and affection with which she was treated by all who approached her, delighted and touched, Lord Calamber.

The more, perhaps, because he had heard this family so unjustly abused, and because he saw Lady Oran and her daughter in immediate contrast to Lady Dashfort and Lady Isabel. A little circumstance which occurred during this visit increased his interest for the family. When Lady DeCressy's little boys came in after dinner, one of them was playing with a seal, which had just been torn from a letter. The child showed it to Lord Calamber and asked him to read the motto. The motto was, deeds, not words. his friend Sir James Brooks' motto and his arms. Lord Calamber eagerly inquired if this family was acquainted with Sir James,

and he soon perceived that they were not only acquainted with him, but that they were particularly interested about him. Lady Oranmore's second daughter, Lady Harriet, appeared particularly pleased by the manner in which Lord Calamber spoke of Sir James, and the child, who had now established himself on his lordship's knee, turned round and whispered in his ear, "'Twas Aunt Harriet gave me the seal. Sir James is to be married to Aunt Harriet,

and then he will be my uncle.' Some of the principal gentry of this part of the country happened to dine at Oranmore one of the days Lord Calamber was there. He was surprised at the discovery that there were so many agreeable, well-informed and well-bred people, of whom, while he was at Kilpatrickstown, he had seen nothing. He now discerned how far he had been deceived by Lady Dashfort.

Both the Count and Lord and Lady Oranmar, who were warmly attached to their country, exhorted him to make himself amends for the time he had lost by seeing with his own eyes and judging with his own understanding of the country and its own inhabitants during the remainder of the time he was to stay in Ireland. The higher classes in most countries, they observed, were generally similar, but in the lower class he would find many characteristic differences. When he first came to Ireland, he had been very eager to go and see his father's estate and to judge of the conduct of his agents and the condition of his tenetry.

But this eagerness had subsided, and the design had almost faded from his mind whilst under the influence of Lady Dashfort's misrepresentations. A mistake, relative to some remittance from his banker in Dublin, obliged him to delay his journey a few days, and during that time Lord and Lady Orrin Moore showed him the neat cottages, the well-attended schools in their neighborhood. They showed him not only what could be done, but what had been done by the influence of great proprietors

residing on their own estates, and encouraging the people by judicious kindness. He saw, he acknowledged, the truth of this, but it did not come home to his feelings now, as it would have done a little while ago. His views and plans were altered. He had looked forward to the idea of marrying and settling in Ireland, and then everything in the country was interesting to him. but since he had forbidden himself to think of a union with Miss Nugent,

his mind had lost its object and its spring. He was not sufficiently calm to think of the public good. His thoughts were absorbed by his private concern. He knew and repeated to himself that he ought to visit his own and his father's estates and to see the condition of his tenantry. he desired to fulfill his duties, but they ceased to appear to him easy and pleasurable, for hope and love no longer brighten his prospects.

That he might see and hear more than he could as air apparent to the estate, he sent his servant to Dublin to wait for him there. He traveled incognito, wrapped himself in a shabby great coat, and took the name of Evans. He arrived at a village, or as it was called, a town, which bore the name of Colamber. He was agreeably surprised by the air of neatness and finish in the houses and in the street, which had a nicely swept paved footway.

He slept at a small but excellent inn, excellent perhaps because it was small and proportioned to the situation and business of the place. good supper good bed good attendance nothing out of repair no things pressed into services for what they were never intended by nature or art none of what are vulgarly called makeshifts no chambermaid slipshod or waiter smelling of whiskey but all tight and right and everybody doing their own business and doing it as if it was their everyday occupation not as if it was done by particular desire for first or last time this season. The landlord came in at supper to inquire whether anything was wanted. Lord Calamber took this opportunity of entering into conversation with him, and asked him, to whom the town belonged, and who were the proprietors of the neighboring estates. The town belongs to an absentee lord, one Lord Clonbroni, who lives always beyond the seas in London, and never seen the town since it was a town to call a town.

and does the land in the neighbourhood belong to this lord clonbroni it does sir he's a great proprietor but knows nothing of his property nor of us never set foot among us to my knowledge since i was as high as the table he might as well be a west india planter and we negroes for anything he knows to the contrary has no more care nor thought about us than if he were in jamaica or the other world shame for him but there's too many to keep him in countenance lord calamber asked him what wine he could have and then inquired who managed the estate for this absentee mr burke sir and i don't know why god was so kind to give so good an agent to an absentee like Lord Clondrone, except it was for the sake of us, who is under him, and knows the blessing, and is thankful for the same. Very good cutlets, said Lord Calamber. I am happy to hear it, sir. They have a right to be good, for Mrs. Burke sent her own cook to teach my wife to dress cutlets. So the agent is a good, agent, is he? He is, thanks be to heaven, and that's what few people

can most especially when the landlords live in over the seas we have the look to have got a good agent over us in mr burke who is a right-bred gentleman a snug little property of his own honestly made with the good-well and good wishes and respect of all does he live in the neighbourhood just convenient at the end of the town in the house on the hill as you passed sir to the left with the trees about it all of his plantain finely grown too for there's a blessing on all he does and he has done a deal there's salad sir if you are partial to it very fine lettuce mrs burke sent us the plants herself excellent salad so this mr burke has done a great deal has he in what way in every way sir sure it was not it he that had improved and fostered and made the town of calamber no thanks to the proprietor nor to the young man whose name it bears neither have you any porter pray sir we have sir as good i hope as you drink in london for it's the same you get there i understand from cork and i have some of my own brewing which they say you could not tell the difference between it and cork quality, if you'd be pleased to try. Harry, the corks grew. The porter of his own brewing was pronounced to be extremely good,

and the landlord observed it was Mr. Burke, encouraged him to learn to brew, and lent him his own brewer for a time to teach him. Your Mr. Burke, I find, is apropos to porter, apropos to salad, apropos to cutlets, apropos to everything, said Lord Calamber, smiling. he seems to be a non-paray of an agent i suppose you are a great favourite of his and you do what you please with him oh no sir i could not say that mr burke does not have favourites anyway but according to my deserts i trust i stand well enough with him for in truth he is a right good agent lord calambor still pressed for particulars he was an englishman and a stranger he said and did not exactly know

what was meant in Ireland by a good agent. Oye, he is the man that will encourage the improving tenant, and show no favour or affection but justice, which comes even to all and does best for all in the long run, and residen always in the country like Mr. Burke, and understanding country business and going about continually among the tenantry, he knows when to press for the rent and when to leave the money to lay out upon the land, and a cordon, as they would want it, can give a tenant a help or a check properly.

Then no duty work called for, no presents nor glove money, nor seal in money even taken or offered, no underhand hints about proposals when land would be out of lease. But a considerable preference, if deserved, to the old tenant, and if not, a fair advertisement and the best offer and tenant accepted, no screwing of the land to the highest penny just to please the head landlord for the minute, and ruin him at the end by the tenants rackin the land, and running off with the year's rent. Nor no bargains to his own relations or friends did Mr. Burke ever give or grant, but all fair between landlord and tenant, and that's the thing that will last,

and that's what I call the good agent. Lord Calamber poured out a glass of wine and begged the innkeeper to drink the good agent's health in which he was heartily pledged. I thank your honour, Mr. Burke's health, and long may he live over and amongst us. He saved me from drink and ruin when I was once inclined to it,

and made a man of me and all my family. The particulars we cannot stay to detail. This grateful man, however, took pleasure in sounding the praises of his benefactor, and in raising him in the opinion of the traveller. As you've time and are curious about such things, sir, perhaps you'd walk up to the school that Mrs. Burke has for the poor children, and look at the market-house and see how clean he takes a pride to keep the town,

and any house in the town, from the priest to the parson's that you'd go into, will give you the same character as I do of Mr. Burke, from the brogue to the boot all speak the same of him and can say no other god forever bless and keep him over us upon making further inquiries everything the innkeeper had said was confirmed by different inhabitants of the village lord calamber conversed with the shopkeepers with the cottagers and without making any alarming inquiries he obtained all the information he wanted he went to the village school a pretty cheerful house with a neat garden and a play-green, met Mrs. Burke, introduced himself to her as a traveler. The school was shown to him.

It was just what it ought to be. Neither too much nor too little had been attempted. There was neither too much interference, nor too little attention. Nothing for exhibition. Care to teach well, without any vain attempt to teach in a wonderfully short time.

All that experience proves to be used, in both Dr. Bell's and Mr. Lancaster's modes of teaching, Mrs. Burke had adopted, leaving it to graceless zealots to fight about the rest. That no attempts at proselytism had been made, and that no illiberal distinctions had been made in this school, Lord Colamber was convinced in the best manner possible by seeing the children of Protestants and Catholics sitting on the same benches, learning from the same books, and speaking to one another with the same cordial familiarity. Mrs. Burke was an unaffected, sensible woman, free from all party prejudices, and, without ostentation, desirous and capable of doing good.

Lord Calamber was much pleased with her, and very glad that she invited him to dinner. Mr. Burke did not come in till late, for he had been detained portioning out some meadows which were of great consequence, to the inhabitants of the town. He brought home to dine with him, the clergyman, and the priest of the parish, both of whom he had taken successful pains to accommodate with the land which suited their respective convenience.

The good terms on which they seemed to be with each other and with him appeared to Lord Calamber to do honour to Mr. Burke. All the favourable accounts his lordship had received of this gentleman were confirmed by what what he saw and heard. After the clergyman and priest had taken leave, upon Lord Colambor's expressing some surprise mixed with satisfaction at seeing the harmony which subsisted between them,

Mr. Burke assured him that this was the same in many parts of Ireland. He observed that as the suspicion of ill-will never fails to produce it, so he had often found that taking it for granted that no ill-will exists has the most conciliating effect. He said that to please opposite parties he used no arts, but he tried to make all his neighbors live comfortably together by making them acquainted with each other's good qualities, by giving them opportunities of meeting sociably, and from time to time of doing each other little services and good offices.

Fortunately, he had so much to do, he said, that he had no time for controversy. he was a plain man made it to rule not to meddle with speculative points and to avoid all irritating discussions he was not to rule the country but to live in it and make others live as happily as he could having nothing to conceal in his character opinions or circumstances mr burke was perfectly open and unreserved in his manner and conversation freely answered all the travellers inquiries and took pains to show him everything he designed to show him everything he desired desired to see. Lord Calamber said he had thoughts of settling in Ireland, and declared, with truth, that he had not seen any part of the country he should like better to live in than this neighborhood. He went over most of the estate with Mr. Burke, and had ample opportunities of convincing himself that this gentleman was, indeed, as the innkeeper had described him,

a right good gentleman and a right good agent. He paid Mr. Burke some just compliment on the state of the tenantry and the neat and flourishing appearance of the town of Calamber. What pleasure it will give the proprietor when he sees all you have done, said Lord Calamber. Oh, sir, don't speak of it. That breaks my heart. He never has shown the least interest in anything I have done. He is quite dissatisfied with me, because I have not ruined his tenantry by forcing them to pay more than the land is worth, because i have not squeezed money from them by finen down rents and but all this as an englishman sir must be unintelligible to you the end of the matter is that attached as i am to this place and the people about me and as i hope the tenantry are to me i fear i shall be obliged to give up the agency give up the agency how so you must not cried lord calamber and for the moment he forgot himself but mr burke took this only for an expression of good-will i must i am afraid continued he my employer lord clonbroni is displeased with me continual calls for money come upon me from england and complaints of my slow remittances

perhaps lord plonbruny is in embarrassed circumstances said lord calamber i never speak of my employer's affairs sir replied mr burke now for the first time assuming an air of reserve i beg pardon sir i seem to have asked an indiscreet question mr burke was silent lest my reserve should give you a false impression i will add sir resumed mr burke that i really am not acquainted with the state of his lordship's affairs in general i know only what belongs to the estate under my own management the principal part of his lordship's property the clonbruny estate is under another agent mr garretty garretty repeated lord calamber what sort of person is he but i may take it for granted that it cannot fall through the lot of one and the same absentee to have two such agents as mr burke mr burke bowed and seemed pleased by the compliment which he knew he deserved but not a word did he say of mr garretty and lord calamber afraid of betraying himself by some other indiscreet question changed the conversation that very night the post brought a letter to mr burke from lord clonbroni which mr burke gave to his wife as soon as he had read it saying see the reward of all my service Mrs. Burke glanced her eye over the letter, and being extremely fond of her husband, and sensible of his deserving far different treatment, burst into indignant exclamations.

See the reward of all your services, indeed! What an unreasonable, ungrateful man! So this is the thanks for all you have done for Lord Clonbrony. He does not know what I have done, my dear. He never has seen what I have done. more shame for him he never i suppose looks over his accounts or understands them more shame for him he listens to foolish reports or misrepresentations perhaps he is at a distance and cannot find out the truth more shame for him take it quietly my dear we have the comfort of a good conscience the agency may be taken from me by this lord but the sense of having done my duty, no lord or man upon earth can give or take away. Such a letter, said Mrs. Burke, taking it up again, not even the civility to write with his own hand, only his signature to the scrawl. Looks as if it was written by a drunken man, does not it, Mr. Evans, said she, showing the

letter to Lord Calamber, who immediately recognized the writing of Sir Terence O'Fay. It does not look like the hand of a gentleman, indeed, said Lord Calamber. It has Lord Clanbrony's own signature, let it be what it will, said Mr. Burke, looking closely at it, Lord Clonbronie's own righton the signature is, I am clear of that. Lord Clonbrony's son was clear of it also, but he took care not to give any opinion on that point. Oh, pray, read it, sir, read it, said Mr. mrs burke pleased by his tone of indignation read it pray a gentleman may write a bad hand but no gentleman could write such a letter as that to mr burke pray read it sir you who have seen something of what mr burke has done for the town of colamber and what he has made of the tenantry and the estate of lord clonbruny lord colambor read and was convinced that his father had never written or read the letter but had signed it

trusting to Sir Terence O'Fey's having expressed his sentiments properly. Sir, as I have no further occasion for your services, you will take notice that I hereby request you will forthwith handover, on or before the 1st of November next, your accounts with the balance due of the hanging gale, which I understand is more than ought to be at this season, to Nicholas O'Garity, Esquire, College Green Dublin, who in future will act as agent,

and shall get by post immediately a power of attorney for the same, entitling him to receive and manage the Colamber as well as the Clonbroni estate, for, sir, your obedient, humble servant, Clonbroni, Groverner Square. Though misrepresentation, caprice, or interest, might have induced Lord Clonbrony to desire to change his agent, yet Lord Calamber knew that his father never could have announced his wishes in such a style, and as he returned the letter to Mrs. Burke, he repeated he was convinced that it was impossible that any nobleman could have written such a letter, that it must have been written by some

inferior person, and that his lordship had signed it without reading it. My dear, I'm sorry you showed that letter to Mr. Evans, said Mr. Burke. I don't like to expose Lord Clondroney. He is a well-meaning gentleman, misled by ignorant or designan people. at all events it is not for us to expose him he has exposed himself said mrs burke and the world should know it he was very kind to me when i was a young man said mr burke we must not forget that now because we are angry my love i know my love to be sure we should not but who could have recollected it just at this minute but yourself and now sir turning to lord clamber you see what you see what you see what you may have recollected it just at this minute but yourself and now sir turning to lord clamber you see what kind of a man this is now is it not difficult for me to bear patiently to see him ill-treated not only difficult but impossible i should think madam said lord clamber i know even i who am a stranger cannot help feeling for both of you as you must see i do and half the world who don't know him continued mrs burke when they hear that lord clonbrony's agency is taken from him will

think perhaps that he is to blame. No, madam, said Lord Calamber. That you need not fear. Mr. Burke may safely trust to his character. From what I have within these two days seen and heard, I am convinced that such is the respect he has deserved and acquired, that no blame can touch him. Sir, I thank you, said Mrs. Burke, the tears coming into her eyes.

You can judge, you do him justice, but there are so many who don't know him and who will decide without knowing any of the facts. That, my dear, happens about everything, to everybody, said Mr. Burke, but we must have patience. Time sets all judgments right, sooner or later. But the sooner the better, said Mrs. Burke. Mr. Evans, I hope you will be so kind if ever you hear this business talked of. Mr. Evans lives in Wales, my dear. but he is travelling through Ireland, my dear, and he said he should return to Dublin,

and you know, there he certainly will hear it talked of, and I hope he will do me the favour to state what he has seen and knows to be the truth. Be assured that I will do Mr. Burke justice, as far as it is in my power, said Lord Calamber, restraining himself much, that he might not say more than became his assumed character. He took leave of this worthy family that night, and early the next morning departed. Ah, thought he as he drove away from this well-regulated and flourishing place, how happy I might be settled here with such a wife as her of whom I must think no more. He pursued his way to Clonbroni, his father's other estate,

which was at a considerable distance from collapse. he was resolved to know what kind of agent mr nicholas garrity might be who was to supersede mr burke and by power of attorney to be immediately entitled to receive and manage the colambur as well as the clonbroni estate end of chapter nine chapter ten of the absentee by maria edgeworth this liber fox recording is in the public domain towards the evening of the second day's journey the driver of lord calamus hackney chaise stopped and jumping off the wooden bar on which he had been seated exclaimed we've come to the bad step now the bad roads beginnin upon us please your honor bad road that is very uncommon in this country i never saw such fine roads as you have in ireland that's true and god bless your honour that's sensible of that same for it's not what all the foreign quality i drive have the manners to notice god bless your honour i heard you're a welshman but whether or no i am sure you are a gentleman anyway welsh or other notwithstanding the shabby great-coat the shrewd postilion perceived by our hero's language that he he was a gentleman. After much dragging at the horse's heads and pushing and lifting, the carriage was got over what the postilion said was the worst part of the bad step. But as the road was not

yet to say good, he continued walking beside the carriage. It's only bad just hereabouts, and that by accident, said he, on account of there being no gentleman resident in it, nor near, but only a bit of an under-agent, a great little rogue, who gets his own. turn out of the roads and of everything else in life i larry brady that i'm telling your honour have a good right to know for myself and my father my brother pat brady the wheelwright had once a farm under him but was ruined horse and foot all along with him and cast out and my brother forced to fly the country and is now working in some coach-maker's yard in london banished he is and here am i forced to be what i am and now that i'm reduced to drive a-house the agents a curse to me still with these bad roads killin my horses and wheels and a shame to the country which i think more of bad luck to him i know your brother he lives with mr mordecai in longacre in london oh god bless you for that they came at this time within view of a range of about four-and-twenty men and boys sitting astride on four-and-twenty heaps of broken stones on each side of the road They were all armed with hammers, with which they began to pound with great diligence and noise, as soon as they saw the carriage.

The chaise passed between these batteries, the stones flying on all sides. "'How are you, Jim? How are you fell?' said Larry. But hold your hand, can she, while I stop and get the stones out of the horse's feet. So you're making up the rent, are you, for St. Dennis?' "'Bush,' said one of the pounders, coming close to the postil. and pointing his thumb back towards the chaise who have you in it oh you need not scruple he's a very honest man he's only a man from north wales one mr evans an innocent gentleman that sent over to travel up and down the country to find is there any copper mines in it how do you know larry because i know very well from one that was told and i seen him taxed the man of the king's head with the copper half-crown at first sight which was only led to lucat you tink to them that was not skillful in copper so lend me a knife till i cut a linch-pin out of the hedge for this one won't go far whilst larry was making the linch-pin all scruple being removed his question about st dennis and the rent was answered

ay it's the rint sure enough we're poundin out for him for hay sent the driver round last night was eight days to warn us old nick would be down a monday to take a sweep among us and there's only six clear days saturday night before the assizes sure so we must see and get it finished anyway to clear the presentment again the swearin day for he and patty hart is the overseers themselves and paddy is to swear to it st denis says it then you've one great comfort in security that he won't be particular about the swearing for since ever he had his head on his shoulders an oath never stuck in st denis's throat more than in his own brother old knicks his head upon his shoulders repeated lord calamber pray did you ever hear that st denis's head was off his shoulders it never was plays your honour to my knowledge did you never among your saints hear of st denis carrying his head in his hand said lord calamber "'The real saint,' said the Postilion, suddenly changing his tone and looking shocked. "'Oh, don't be talking that way of the Saints, plays your honor.' "'Then of what St. Dennis were you talking just now? "'Whom do you mean by St. Dennis, and whom do you call Old Nick?'

"'Old Nick,' answered the Postillion, coming close to the side of the carriage and whispering, "'Old Neck, plays your honor, is our nickname for one Nicholas Garrity, Esquire, of College Green, Dublin, and St. Dennis is his brother Dennis, whose old Nick's brother in all things, and would fame be a saint, only he is a sinner. He leads just by here, in the country, under-agent to Lord Clonbroni, as Old Neck is Upper Agent. It's only a joke among the people that are not fond of them at all.

Lord Clonbroni himself is a very good gentleman, if he was not an absentee, resident in London, leave an us and everything to the likes of them. Lord Calamber listened with all possible composure and attention, but the Postilian having now made his linchpin of wood and fixed himself, he mounted his bar and drove on, saying to Lord Calamber, as he looked at the roadmakers, Poor creatures, they couldn't keep their cattle out of pound,

or themselves out of jail, but by making this road. Is road-making then a very profitable business, have road-makers higher wages than other men in this part of the country it is and it is not they have and they have not plays your honour i don't understand you no because you're an englishman that is a welshman i beg your honours pardon but i'll tell you how that is and i'll go slow over these broken stones for i can't go fast it is where there's no gentleman over these underagents as here they do as they plays and when they have set the land they get reasonable from the head landlords the poor creatures at a rack rent that they can't live and pay the rent they say who says them under agents that have no conscience at all not all but some like dennis says says hey i'll get you a road to make up the rent that is please your honor the agent gets them a presentment for so many purchase of road from the grand jury had twice the price that would make the road. And tenants are, boy, this means, as they take the road by contract, at the price given by the county, able to pay all they get by the job, over and above potatoes and salt, back again to the agent for the arrear on the land. Do I make your honour sensible?

You make me much more sensible than I ever was before, said Lord Calamber. But is not this cheating the county? Well, and suppose, replied Larry. is not it all for my good and yours too plays your honour said larry looking very shrewdly my good said lord clamber startled what have i to do with it haven't you to do with the roads as well as me when you're travelling upon them plays your honour and sure they'd never be got made at all if they weren't made this ways and it's the best way in the wide world and the finest roads we have and when the rail gentlemen's resident in the country there's no job and can be because they're then the leaden men on the grand jury and these journeymen gentlemen are then kept in order and all's right lord calambra was much surprised at larry's knowledge of the manner in which country business is managed as well as by his shrewd good sense he did not know that this is not uncommon in his rank of life in ireland whilst larry was speaking lord calabre was looking from side to side at the desolation of the prospect so this is lord pondbroni's estate is it ay all you see and is far and farther than you can see my lord conbroni wrote and ordered plantations here time back and enough was paid to labourers for ditching and plantin and what next why what did the underagent do but let the goats in through gaps left a purpose to bark the trees and then the trees was all banished

and next the cattle was let in trespassin and winked that till the land was all poached and then the land was waste and croyed down and st denis's wrote up to Dublin to Old Nick, and he over to the landlord, how none would take it, or bid anything at all for it. So then it fell to him a cheap bargain. Oh, the tricks of them. Who knows him if I don't? Presently Lord Calamber's attention was roused again by seeing a man running, as if for his life, across a bog near the roadside. He leaped over the ditch and was upon the road in an instant. He seemed startled at first at the sight of the carriage, but, looking at the postilion, Larry nodded, and he smiled and said, All safe.

Pray, my good friend, may I ask what that is you have on your shoulder, said Lord Calamber. Please, Your Honor, it has only a private still, which I've just caught out yonder in the bog, and I'm carrying it in with all speed to the gauger to make a discovery that the gentleman may benefit by the reward. I expect he'll make me a compliment. get up behind and I'll give you a lift, said the postillion. Thank you kindly, but better my legs, said the man, and turning down a lane off he ran again as fast as possible.

Expect he'll make me a compliment, repeated Lord Calamber, to make a discovery? I, place your honour, for the law is, said Larry, that if an unlawful still, that is a still without license for whiskey, is found, half the benefit of the first. fine that's put upon the parish goes to him but made the discovery. That's what that man is after, for he's an informer. I should not have thought from what I see of you, said Lord Calamber, smiling, that you, Larry, would have offered an informer a lift. Oh, place, your honour, said Larry, smiling archly, would not I give the laws a left when in my power?

scarcely had he uttered these words and scarcely was the informer out of sight when across the same bog and over the ditch came another man a half kind of gentleman with a red silk handkerchief about his neck and a silver-handled whip in his hand did you say any man past the road friend said he to the postilion oh who would i see or why would i tell replied larry in a sulky tone come come be smart said the man with the silver whip offering to put half a crown into the postilion's hand point me which way he took i'll have none of your silver don't touch me with it said larry but if you'll take my advice you'll strike across back and follow the fields of de kill a genisaby the excise man set out again immediately in an opposite direction to that which the man who carried the still had taken lord calamber now perceived that the pretended informer had been running off to conceal a still of his own the gauger plays your honour said larry looking back at lord calamber the gauger is a still huntin.' "'And you put him on a wrong scent,' said Lord Calamber. "'Sure, I told him no lie. I only said, if you'll take my advice, and why was he such a fool as to take my advice when I wouldn't take his fee?'

So this is the way, Larry, you give a lift to the laws. If the laws would give a lift to me, plays your honor, maybe I'd do as much by them. But it's only these revenue laws, I mean, for I'm. never, to my knowledge, broke another commandment, but it's what no honest, poor man among his neighbours would scruple to take, a glass of pot-sheen. A glass of what, in the name of heaven? said Lord Calamber. Pot-sheen, plays your honour, because it's the little whiskey

that's made in the private still, or pot, and sheen, because it's a fond word for whatsoever we'd like, and for what we have little of, and would make much of. After taken the glass of it, no man could go and inform to ruin the creatures, for they all shelter on that escaped under favour of them that go shares and make rent of them, but I'd never inform again them. And after all, if the truth was known and my Lord Clonbroni should be informed against and presented, for it's his neglect is the bottom of the nuisance, I find all the blame is thrown upon this poor Lord

Clonbrony, said Lord Calamber. Because he is absent, said Lerner, said Ler. larry it would not be so was he present but your honour was talking to me about the laws your honour's a stranger in this country and astray about them things sure why would i mind the laws about whisky more than the quality or the judge on the bench what do you mean why was not i present in the courthouse myself when the judge on the bench judin us still and across the court came in one with a sly jug of poaching for the judge himself who preferred it when the right thing declare it and when i seen that by the laws a man might talk himself dumb to me after again potchine or in favour of the revenue or revenue officers and there they may go on with their gauges and their surveyors and their supervisors and their watchin officers and their corson officers setting them one after another or one over the head of another or what way they will we can baffle and laugh at him didn't i know next door to our inn last year ten watchin officers set upon one distiller and he was too cunning for them and it will always be so while ever the people think it no sin no till then not all their dockets and pyramids signify a rush or a turf and the gaugan rod even who fears it they may spare that rod for it will never mend the child how much longer larry's dissertation on the distinctions the distillery laws would have continued, had not his ideas been interrupted,

we cannot guess. But he saw he was coming to a town, and he gathered up the reins and plied the whip, ambitious to make a figure in the eyes of its inhabitants. This town consisted of one row of miserable huts sunk beneath the side of the road, the mud walls crooked in every direction, some of them opening in wide cracks or zigzag fissures

from top to bottom, as if there had just a as if there had just been an earthquake. All the roofs sunk in various places, fatch off or overgrown with grass, no chimneys, the smoke making its way through a hole in the roof or rising in clouds from the top of the open door, dung hills before the doors and green standing puddles, squalid children with scarcely rags to cover them,

gazing at the carriage. Nugent's town, said the Postilion, once a snug place when my lady Clonbrony was at home to whitewash it and the like. As they drove by some men and women put their heads through the smoke out of the cabins, pale women with long black or yellow locks, men with countenances and figures bereft of hope and energy. Wretched, wretched people, said Lord Calamber. Then it's not their fault, neither, said Larry, from my own uncle's one of them, and as thriving and hard a work and man as could be in all Ireland he was afore he was tramped under foot and his heart broke.

I was at his funeral this time last year, and for it may the agent's own heart, if he has any, burn— Lord Calamber interrupted this denunciation by touching Larry's shoulder, and asking some question, which, as Larry did not distinctly comprehend, he pulled up the reins and the various—' noises of the vehicle stopped suddenly. I did not hear well, please your honor. What are those people? Pointing to a man and woman, curious figures who had come out of a cabin, the door of which the woman, who came out last, locked, and carefully hiding the key in the fatch,

turned her back upon the man, and they walked away in different directions, the woman bending under a huge bundle on her back, covered by a yellow petticoat turned over her shoulders. From the top of this bundle the head of an infant appeared. A little boy, almost naked, followed her with a kettle, and two girls, one of whom could but just walk, held her hand and clung to her ragged petticoat,

forming altogether a complete group of beggars. The woman stopped and looked back after the man. The man was a Spanish-looking figure with grey hair, a wallet hung at the end of a stick over one shoulder a reaping hook in the other hand he walked off stoutly without ever casting a look behind him a coined harvest to you john dolan cried the postilion and success to ye winnie with the quality there's a look penny for the child to begin with added he throwing the child a penny your honor there are only poor creatures goin up the country to beg while the man goes over to reap the harvest in england nor this would not be neither if the lord was in it to give him employ that man now was a good and willing slave in his day i mind him workin with myself in the shrubberies at clonbroni castle when i was a boy but i'll not be detaining your honor now the road's better the postilion drove on at a good rate for some time till he came to a piece of the road freshly covered with broken stones,

where he was obliged again to go slowly. They overtook a string of cars on which were piled up high, beds, tables, chairs, trunks, boxes, band boxes. How are you, Finnecon? You fine lodin there, from Dublin, are you? From Bray. And what news? Great news and bad, for old Nick or some belonging.

and to him, thanks me to heaven, for myself hates him. What's happened him? His sister's husband that's failed, the great grocer that was, the man that had the wife that owed the fine house near Bray, that they got that time the Parliament flitted, and that I seen in her carriage flaming. Well, it's all out, they're all done up. Tutt, is that all? Then they'll thrive and set up again grander than ever, I'll engage. Have not they old Nick for an attorney at their back a good warrant oh trust him for that he won't go security nor pay a farthing for his shister nor wouldn't was she his father i heard him telling her so which i could not have done in his place at that time and she cryin as if her heart would break and i standin by in the parlour the nigger and did he speak that way and you buy i did he and said mrs rafferty says he it's all your own fault your an extravagant fool and ever was, and I wash my hands of you. That was the word he spoke,

and she answered and said, and may and I send the beds and blankets, said she, and what I can buy the cars out of the way of the creditors to Clonbrony Castle, and won't you let me hide there from the shame till the bustle's over? You may do that, says he, for what I care, but remember, says he, that I've the first claim to them goods. And that's all he would grant. So they are coming down all a Monday. Them are her band-boxes and all to settle it. And Faith, it was a pity of her to hear her sobbing, and to see her own brother speak and look so hard, and she a lady. Sure, she's not a lady born no more than himself, said Larry, but that's no excuse for him. His heart's as hard as that stone, said Larry. And my own people knew that long ago,

and now his own know it, and what right have we to complain, since he's as bad to his own flesh and blood as to us. With this consolation, and with a God-speed you, given to the carman, Larry was driving off, but the carman called to him and pointed to a house at the corner of which, on a high pole, was swinging an iron sign of three horse-shoes set in a crooked frame, and at the window hung an empty bottle, proclaiming whiskey within. Well, I don't care if I do, said Larry,

for I've no other comfort left me in life now. I beg your honour's pardon, sir, for a minute, added he, throwing the reins into the carriage to Lord Calamber as he leaped down. All remonstrance and power of lungs to reclaim him vain. He darted into the whiskey house with the carman, reappeared before Lord Calamber could accomplish getting out, remounted his seat and taking the reins. I thank your honor, said he,

and I'll bring you to Clonbroney before it's pitch dark yet. though it's nightfall and that's four good miles but a spur in the head is worth two in the heel larry to demonstrate the truth of his favourite axiom drove off at such a furious rate over great stones left in the middle of the road by carmen who had been driving in the guzzins of their axle trees to hinder them from lacing that lord calamor thought life and limb in imminent danger and feeling that at all events the jolting and bumping was to be past endurance, he had recourse to Larry's shoulder, and shook and pulled, and called to him to go slower, but in vain. At last, the wheel struck full against a heap of stones at a turn of the road, the wooden linchpin came off, and the shez was overset. Lord Calamber was a little bruised, but glad to escape without fractured bones. I beg your honour's pardon, said Larry, completely sobered. i'm as glad as the best pair of boots ever i see to see your honour nothin the worse for it it was the lynch-pen and them barrows a loose stones that ought to be fined anyway if there was any justice in the country the pole is broke how were we to get on said lord calamber murder murder and no smith nearer than conbrony nor rope even it's a folly to talk we can't get to conbrony nor stir a step backward or forward the night

what then do you mean to leave me all night in the middle of the road cried lord calamber quite exasperated is it me please your honor i would not use any gentleman so ill bar and i could do no other replied the postilion coolly then leaping across the ditch or as he called it the gripe of the ditch he scrambled up and while he was scrambling said if your honor will lend me your hand till i pull you up the back of the ditch the horses will stand one we go. I'll find you as pretty a lodgin for the night, with a widow of a brother of my sister's husband that was, as ever you slept in your life. For old Nick or St. Denis has not found him out yet, and your honour will be, no compare, snugger than the inn at Clonbroni, which has no roof, the devil a stick. But where will I get your honour's hand, for it's coming on so dark? I can't see rightly. There, you're up now safe. Yonder candles the house. go and ask whether they can give us a night's lodging is it to ask when i see the light sure they'd be proud to give the traveller all the beds in the house let alone one

take care of the potato furrows that's all and follow me straight i'll go on to meet the dog who knows me and might be strange to your honour kindly welcome were the first words lord colambor heard when he approached the cottage and kindly welcome was in the sound of the voice and in the countenance of the old woman who came out, shading her rush candle from the wind and holding it so as to light the path. When he entered the cottage, she saw a cheerful fire and a neat pretty young woman making it blaze. She curtsied, put her spinning wheel out of the way,

set a stool by the fire for the stranger, and repeating in a very low tone of voice, kindly welcome, retired. Put down some eggs, dear, there's plenty in the bowl, said the old. woman calling to her. I'll do the bacon. Was not we lucky to be up? The boy's gone to bed, but waken him, said she, turning to the postillion, and he'll help you with the Shea,

and put your horses in the beer for the night. No, Larry chose to go on to Clon Bruney with the horses, that he might get the chaise mended betimes for his honour. The table was set, clean trenchers, hot potatoes, milk, eggs, bacon, and kindly welcome to all. set the salt dear and the butter love where's your head grace dear grace repeated lord calamber looking up and to apologize for his involuntary exclamation he added is grace a common name in ireland i can't say plays your honor but it was give her by lady clonbroni from a niece of her own that was her foster-sister sister god bless her and a very kind lady she was to us and to all when she was livin in it but those times are gone past said the old woman with a sigh the young woman sighed too and sitting down by the fire began to count the notches in a little bit of stick which she held in her hand and after she had counted them sighed again but don't be sion grace now said the old woman sighs is bad sauce for the traveller's supper and we won't be trouble in him with more added she turning to lor Lord Calamber with a smile.

Is your egg done to your lichen? Perfectly, thank you. Then I wish it was a chicken for your sake, which it should have been, and roast too, had we time. I wish I could see you eat another egg. No more, thank you, my good lady. I never ate a better supper, nor received the more hospitable welcome.

Oh, the welcome is all we have to offer. May I ask what that is, said Lord Calamber, looking at the notched stick, which the young woman held in her hand, and on which her eyes were still fixed. It's a tally, plays your honor. Oh, you're a foreigner. It's the way the laborers do keep the account of the day's work with the overseer, the bailiff. A notch for every day the bailiff makes on his stick, and the laborer, the like, on his stick, to tally. And when we come to make up the account, it's by the notches we go. And there's been a missus. mistake and is a dispute here between our boy and the overseer and she was counten the boy's tally that's in bed tired for in truth he's overworked would you want anything more for me mother said the girl rising and turning her head away no child get away for your heart's full she went instantly is the boy her brother said lord calamber no he's her bachelor said the child he's her bachelor said the the old woman lowering her voice. Her bachelor?

That is her sweetheart, for she is not my daughter, though you heard her call me mother, the boy is my son, but I am feared they must give it up, for they're too poor, the times is hard, and the agents harder than the times.

There's two of them, the under and the upper, and they groaned the substance of one between them, and then blow one away like chaff. But we'll not be talking of that, to spoil your honour's night's rest. The room's ready, and here's the rush-light.

She showed him into a very small but neat room. What a comfortable-looking bed, said Lord Calamber. Ah, these red-check curtains, said she, letting them down. These have lasted well. They were given me by a good friend now far away over the seas, my lady Clonbroni, and made by the prettiest hands ever you see, her nieces, Miss Grace Nugent's, and she a little child that time.

Sweet love, all gone. The old woman wiped a tear from her eye, and Lord Calamber did what he could to appear indifferent. She sat down the candle and left the room. Lord Calamber went to bed, but he lay awake, revolving sweet and bitter thoughts. End of Chapter 10. Chapter 11 of the Absentee by Mariah Edgeworth. This Lubrevox recording is in the public domain. The kettle was on the fire, tea things set, everything prepared for her guest by the hospitable hostess,

who, thinking the gentleman would take tea to his breakfast, had sent off a gossoon by the first light to Clonbroni for an ounce of tea, a quarter of sugar, and a loaf of white bread. And there was, on the little table, good cream, milk, butter, eggs, all the promise of an excellent breakfast. It was a fresh morning, and there was a pleasant fire on the hearth, neatly swept up. The old woman was sitting in her chimney corner behind a little screen of whitewashed wall built out into the room for the purpose of keeping those who sat at the fire from the blast of the door. There was a loophole in this wall to let the light in just at the height of a person's head who was sitting near the chimney.

The rays of the morning sun now came through it, shining across the face of the old woman as she sat knitting. Lord Palamber thought he had seldom seen a more agreeable countenance, intelligent eyes, benevolent smile, a natural expression of cheerfulness subdued by age and misfortune. A good morrow to you, kindly, sir, and I hope you got the night well. A fine day for us this Sunday morning, my grace is gone to early prayers,

so your honour will be content with an old woman to make your breakfast. Oh, let me put in plenty, or it will never be good. And if your honour takes stir about, an old hand will engage to make that to your lichen anyway, for by great happiness we have what will just answer for you of the nicest meal the miller made my grace a compliment of last time she went to the mill. Lord Calamber observed that this miller had good taste,

and his lordship paid some compliment to grace's beauty which the old woman received with a smile but turned off the conversation then said she looking out of the window is not that there a nice little garden the boy dug for her and me at his breakfast and dinner hours ah he's a good boy and a good warrant to work and the good son deserves the good wife and it's he that will make the good husband and with my good will he and no other shall get her and with her good will the same and i bid him keep up their heart and hope the best for there's no use in fear in the worst till it comes lord palamber wished very much to know the worst if you would not think a stranger impertinent for asking said he and if it would not be painful to you to explain oh impertinent your honor it's very kind and sure none's a stranger to one's heart that feels for one and for myself i can talk of my troubles without thinking of him so i'll tell you all if the worst comes to the worst all that is is that we must quit and give up this little snug place and house and farm and all to the agent which would be hard on us and me a widow when my husband did all that is done to the land and if your honour was a judge you could see if you stepped out there has been a deal done and built the house and all but it placed heaven to take him well he was too good for this world and i'm satisfied i'm not saying a word again that i trust we shall meet in heaven and be happy surely and meantime here's my boy that will make me as happy as ever widow was on earth if the agent will let him and i can't think the agent though they that know him best call him old neck would be so wicked to take from us that which he never gave us the good lord himself

granted us the lace. The life's dropped and the years is out, but we had a promise of renewal in writing from the landlord. God bless him. If he was not away, he'd be a good gentleman and we'd be happy and safe. But if you have a promise in writing of a renewal, surely you are safe,

whether your landlord is absent or present. Ah, no, that makes a great differ when there's no eye or hand over the agent. I would not wish to speak or think ill of him or any man, but was he an angel? He could not know to do the tenantry justice the way he is living, always in Dublin, and coming down to the country only the receiving days to make a sweep among us and gather up the rents in a hurry, and he in such haste back to town, can just stay to count over our money and give the receipts. Happy for us if we get that same. But can't expect he should have time to see or he.

hear us or mind our improvements any more than listen to our complaints oh there's great excuse for the gentleman if that was any comfort for us added she smiling but if he does not live amongst you himself has not he some under-agent who lives in the country said lord calamber he has so and he should know your concerns does he mind them he should know he should know better but as to minding our concerns your honour knows continued she smiling again everyone in this world must mind their own concerns and it would be a good world if it was even so there's a great deal in all things that don't appear at first sight mr dennis wanted grace for a wife for his bailiff but she would not have him and mr dennis was very sweet to her himself but grace is rather high with him as proper and he has a grudge again us ever since. Yet indeed there, added she after another pause, as you say, I think

we are safe, for we have that memorandum in writing with a pencil given under his own hand on the back of the lace to me, by the same token when my good lord had his foot on the step of the coach going away, and I'll never forget the smile of her that got that good turn

done for me, Miss Grace! And just when she was going to England in London and young as she was, to have the thought, to stop and turn to the likes of me. Oh, then, if you could see her, and know her as I did! That was the comforting angel upon earth, look and voice and heart and all. Oh, that she was here present this minute! But did you scald yourself? said the widow to Lord Calamber. Sure, you must have scalded yourself, for you poured the kettle straight over your hand,

and it's boylein. Oh, dear, to think of so young a gentleman's hand shaken, so like my own! Luckily, to prevent her pursuing her observations from the hand to the face, which might have betrayed more than Lord Palamber wished she should know, her own Grace came in at this instant. "'There it's for you, safe, mother dear, the lace,' said Grace, throwing a packet into her lap. The old woman lifted up her hands to heaven With the lease between them Thanks be to heaven Grace passed on and sunk down

On the first seat she could reach Her face flushed and looking much fatigued She loosened the strings of her bonnet and cloak Then I'm tired But recollecting herself She rose and courtseed to the gentleman What tired ye dear Why after prayers we had to go

for the agent was not at prayers nor at home for us when we called we had to go all the way up to the castle and there by great good luck we found mr neck garrity himself come from dublin and the lace in his hands and he sealed it up that way and handed it to me very civil i never saw him so good though he offered me a glass of spirits which was not manners to a decent young woman in a mornin as broyan noticed after brian would not take any either nor never does we met mr dennis and the driver coming home and he says the rent must be paid to-morrow or instead of renewin he'll seize and sell all mother dear i would have dropped with the walk but for brian's arm it's a wonder dear what makes you so weak that used to be so strong but if we can sell the cow for anything at all to mr dennis since his own is set upon her better let him have her mother dear and that and my yarn which mrs garrity says she'll allow me for will make up the rent and brian need not talk of america but it must be in golden guineas the agent will take the rent no other way and you won't get a guinea for less than five shillins well even so it's easy selling my new gown to one that covets it and that will give me an exchange the price of the gold or suppose that would not do add this cloak it's handsome and i know a friend would be glad to take it and i'd part with it as ready as look at it anything at all sure rather than that he should be forced to talk of emigraton or oh worse again listin for the bounty to save us from the cant or the jail by going to the hospital or his grave maybe oh mother

oh child this is what makes you weak fretten don't be that way sure here's the lace and that's good comfort and the soldiers will be gone out of conbrony to-morrow and then that's off your mind and as to america it's only talk i won't let him he's dutiful and would sooner sell my dresser and down to my bed dear than see you sell anything of yours love promise me you won't why didn't prion come home all the way with you grace he would have seen me home said grace only that he went up a piece of the mountain for some stones or ore for the gentleman for he had the manners to tank of him this morning though shame for me i had not when i come in or i would not have told you all this and he himself by see there he is mother brian came in very hot out of breath with his house full of stones good morrow to your honor i was in bed last night and sorry they did not call me up to be of service larry was telling us this morning your honors from wales and lookin for mines in ireland and i heard talk that there was one on our mountain maybe you'd be curious to see and so i brought the best i could but i'm no judge nor i neither thought lord calamber but he thanked the young man and determined to avail himself of larry's misconception or false report examined the stones very gravely and said this promises well lapis caliminaris schist plum pudding stone rhomboidal crystal blend garrowaki and all the strange names he could think of jumbling them together at a venture the lace says it cried the young man with joy sparkling in his

eyes as his mother held up the packet then all safe and he's an honest man and shame on me that could suspect he meant us wrong lend me the papers he cracked the seals and taking off the cover it's the lace sure enough shame on me but stay where's the memorandum it's there sure said his mother where my lord's pencil writ it i don't read grace dear look the york young man put it into her hands and stood without power to utter a syllable. It's not here. It's gone. No sign of it. Gracious heaven, that can't be, said the old woman, putting on her spectacles. Let me see. I remember the very spot. It's taken away. It's rubbed clean out. Oh, wasn't I fool! But who could have thought he'd be the villain? The young man seemed neither to see nor hear, but to be absorbed in thought.

Grace, with her eyes fixed upon him, grew as pale as death. He'll go. He's gone. She's gone, cried Lord Calamber, and the mother just caught her in her arms as she was falling. The chaise is ready, plays your honor, said Larry, coming into the room. Death, what's here? "'Air! She's coming, too,' said the young man. "'Take a drop of water, my own grace.'

"'Young man, I promise you,' cried Lord Calamber, speaking in the tone of a master, striking the young man's shoulder who was kneeling at Grace's feet, but recollecting and restraining himself, he added, in a quiet voice, "'I promise you, I shall never forget the hospitality I have received in this house, and I am sorry to be obliged to leave you in distress. These words uttered with difficulty, he hurried out of the house and into his carriage.

Go back to them, said he to the postilion, go back and ask whether if I should stay a day or two longer in this country, they would let me return at night and lodge with them. And here, man, stay, take this, putting money into his hands, for the good woman of the house. the postilion went in and returned she won't at all i knew she would not well i am obliged to her for the night's lodging she did give me i have no right to expect more what is it sure she bid me tell you and welcome to the lodg in for said she he is a coin-hearted gentleman but here's the money it's that i was telling you she would not have at all thank you now my good friend larry drive me to clonbroni and do not say another word for i'm not in a talking humor

larry nodded mounted and drove to clonbroni clonbrony was now a melancholy scene the houses which had been built in a better style of architecture than usual were in a ruinous condition the dashing was off the walls no glass in the windows and many of the roofs with slates for the stillness of the place lord calamber in some measure accounted by considering that it was sunday therefore of course all the shops were shut up and all the people at prayers he alighted at the inn which completely answered larry's representation of it nobody to be seen but a drunken waiter who as well as he could articulate informed lord calamber that his mistress was in her bed since thursday was a week the hustler at the washwomen's and the cook at second prayers lord calamber walked to the church but the church gate was locked and broken a calf two pigs and an ass in the churchyard and several boys with more of skin apparent than clothes were playing at hustle cap upon a tombstone which upon nearer observation he saw was the monument of his own family one of the boys came to the gate and told lord calamber there was no use and going into the church because there was no church there nor had not been this twelvemonth because there was no curate and a parson was away always since the lord was at home that is was not at home home he nor the family lord calamber returned to the inn where after waiting a considerable time he gave up the point he could not get any dinner and in the evening he walked out again into the town he found several ale-houses however open which were full of people all of them as busy and as noisy as possible he observed that the interest was created by an advertisement of several farms

on the Clonbrony estate to be set by Nicholas Garrity, Esquire. He could not help smiling at his being witness, incognito, to various schemes for outwitting the agents and defrauding the landlord. But on a sudden, the scene was changed.

A boy ran in, crying out that St. Dennis was riding down the hill into the town, and if you would not have the license, said the boy, take care of yourself. If you would not, have the license, Lord Calamber perceived by what followed, meant, if you have not a license. Brennigan immediately snatched an untasted glass of whiskey from a customer's lips, who cried murder, gave it and the bottle he held in his hand to his wife, who swallowed the spirits

and ran away with the bottle and glass into some back hole, whilst the bystanders laughed saying, Well thought of Peggy. clear out all of you at the back door for the love of heaven if you wouldn't be the ruin of me said the man of the house setting a ladder to a corner of the shop fell hoist me up the keg to the loft added he running up the ladder and one of ye step up street and give rose mcgivney notice for she's sellin too the keg was hoisted up the ladder removed the shop cleared of all the customers the shut the door barred the counter cleaned "'Left your stones, sir, if you plays,' said the wife as she rubbed the counter, "'and say nothing of what you seen at all, "'but that you're a stranger and a traveller, seek an allodging, "'if your question or waitin to see, Mr. Dennis.

"'There's no smell of whiskey in it now, is there, sir?' "'Lord Calamber could not flatter her so far as to say this. "'He could only hope that no one would perceive it. "'Oh, and if he would, the smell of whiskey was nothing,' as the wife affirmed, for it was everywhere in nature, and no proof again anyone, good or bad. Now St. Dennis may come when he will, or old Nick himself. So she tied up a blue handkerchief over her head,

and had the toothache, very bad. Lord Calam returned to look for the man of the house. He's safe in bed, said the wife. In bed? When? Whilst you turned your head, while I was tying the handkerchief over my face, within the room, look, he is snug. And there he was in bed, certainly, and his clothes on the chest. A knock, a loud knock at the door.

St. Dennis himself, Stay till I unbar the door, said the woman, and, making a great difficulty, she let him in, groaning and saying, We was all done up for the night, plays her honour, and myself with the toothache very bad, and the lodger that's going to take an egg only before he'll go into his bed. My man's in it and asleep long ago. With a magisterial air, though with a look of blank disappointment,

Mr. Dennis Garretti walked on, looked into the room, saw the good man of the house asleep, heard him snore, and then returning, asked Lord Calamber who he was and what brought him there. our hero said he was from england and a traveller and now boulder grown as a geologist he talked of his specimens and his hopes of finding a mine in the neighbouring mountains then adopting as well as he could the servile tone and abject manner in which he found mr dennis was to be addressed he hoped he might get encouragement from the gentleman at the head of the estate to bore is it well don't bore me about it i can't give you any answer now my good friend i'm engaged out he strutted stick to him up the town if you have a mind to get your answer whispered the woman lord calamber followed for he wished to see the end of this scene well sir what are you following and then stickin to me like my shadow for said mr dennis turning suddenly upon lord calambor his lordship bowed low waiting for my answer sir when you are at leisure or may i call upon you to-morrow you seem to be a settled kind of fellow but as to boron i don't know if you undertake it at your own expense

i dare say there may be minerals in the ground well you may call at the castle to-morrow and when my brother has done with the tenantry i'll speak to him for you and we'll consult together and see what we think it's too late to-night in ireland nobody speaks to a gentleman about business after dinner your servants sir anybody can show you the way to the castle in the mornin and pushing by his lordship he called to a man on the other side of the street who had obviously been waiting for him he went under a gateway with this man and gave him a bag of guineas he then called for his horse which was brought to him by a man whom colambor had heard declaring that he would bid for the land that was advertised whilst another who had the same intentions most respectfully held st denis's stirrup whilst he mounted without thanking either of these men st denis clapped spurs to his steed and rode away no thanks indeed were deserved for the moment he was out of hearing both cursed him after the manner of their country bad luck go with you then and may you break your neck before you get home if it was not for the lace i'm to get and that's paid for lord calambor followed the crowd into a public house where a new scene presented itself to his view the man to whom st denis gave the bag of gold was now selling this very gold to the tenants who were to pay their rent next day at the castle the agent would take nothing but gold the same guineas were bought and sold several times over to the great profit of the agent and loss of the poor tenants for as the rents were paid the guineas were resold to another set and their remittances made through bankers to the landlord who as the poor man who explained the transaction to lord calamber expressed it gained nothing by the business bad or good but the ill-well of the tenant-tree

the heggling for the price of the gold the time lost in disputing about the goodness of the notes among some poor tenants who could not read or write and who were at the mercy of the man with the bag in his hand, the vexation, the useless harassing of all who were obliged to submit, ultimately, Lord Calamber saw. And all this time he endured the smell of tobacco and whiskey, and of the sound of various rogues, the din of men wrangling, brawling, threatening, whining, drawing, cajoling, cursing, and every variety of wretchedness. And is this my father's tantamination? And is this my father's tant? of Clonbrony, thought Lord Calamber. Is this Ireland? No, it is not Ireland. Let me not, like most of those who forsake their native country, traduce it. Let me not, even to my own mind,

commit the injustice of taking a speck for the whole. What I have just seen is the picture only of that to which an Irish estate and Irish tenantry may be degraded in the the absence of those whose duty and interest it is to reside in Ireland, to uphold justice by example and authority, but who, neglecting this duty, commit power to bad hands and bad hearts, abandon their tenetry to oppression and their property to ruin. It was now fine moonlight, and Lord Calamber met with a boy who said he could show him a short way, across the fields to the widow O'Neill's cottage. End of Chapter 11.

Chapter 12 of the absentee by Mariah Edgeworth. This Lubrevox recording is in the public domain. All were asleep at the cottage when Lord Calamber arrived, except the widow who was sitting up waiting for him and who had brought her dog into the house that he might not fly at him or bark at his return. She had a roast chicken ready. for her guest, and it was, but this she never told him, the only chicken she had left.

All the others had been sent with the duty fowl as a present to the underagents lady. While he was eating his supper, which he ate with the better appetite as he had had no dinner, the good woman took down from the shelf a pocket-book, which she gave him. Is not that your book, said she? My boy Brian found it after you in the potato furrow, where you dropped it. thank you said lord colambor there are bank-notes in it which i could not afford to lose are there said she he never opened it nor i then in answer to his inquiries about grace and the young man the widow answered they are all in heart now i think ye kindly sir for askin they'll sleep easy to-night anyway and i'm in great spirits for them and myself for all's smooth now after we parted you broyan saw mr dennis himself about the lace and memorandum, which he never denied, but knew nothing about.

But be that as it may, says he, your improving tenants, and I'm confident my brother will consider he, so what you'll do is you'll give up the possession to-morrow to myself, that will call for it by cock-crow, just for form's sake, and then go up to the castle with the new lace ready-drawn in your hand, and if all's paid off clear of the rent, and all that's due, you'll get the new. lace signed i'll promise you that upon the word and honour of a gentleman and there's no going beyond that you know sir so my boy came home as light as a feather and as gay as a lark to bring us the good news only he was afraid we might not make up the rent guineas and all and because he could not get paid for the work he done on account of the mistake in the overseer's tally i sold the cow to a neighbour dog-cheap but needs must as they say when old nick droives said the widow smiling well still it was but paper we got for the cow then that must be gold before the agent would take or touch it so i was layin out to sell the dresser and had taken the plates and cups and little things off it

and my boy was lifting it out with andy the carpenter that was agreein for it when in comes grace all rosy and out of breath it's a wonder i minded her run out and not missed her mother says she here the gold for you don't be stirrin your dresser and where's your gown and cloak grace says i but i beg your pardon sir maybe i'm tired in you lord calamber encouraged her to go on where's your gown and cloak grace says i gone says she the cloak was too warm and heavy and i don't doubt mother but it was that helped to make me faint this morning and as to the gown sure i've a very nice one here that you sput for me yourself, mother, and that I prize above all the gowns ever came out of a loom, and that Brian said become me to his fancy above any gown ever he see me wear, and what could I wish for more? Now I'd a mind to scold her for going to sell the gown unnoticed to me, but I don't know how it was I couldn't scold her just then, so kissed her,

and Brian the same, and that was what no man ever did before, and she had a mind to be angry with him but could not nor ought not says i for he's as good as your husband now grace and no man can part ye's now says i put in their hands together well i never saw her look so pretty nor was there not a happier boy that minute on god's earth than my son nor a happier mother than myself and i thanked god that had given them to me and down they both fell on their knees for my blessing little worth as it was and my heart's blessing they had and i laid my hands upon them it's the priest you must get to do this for you to-morrow says i and Brian just held up the ring to show me all was ready on his part, but could not speak. Then there's no America any more, said Grace low to me, and her heart was on her lips, but the colour came and went, and I was afeard she'd have swooned again, but not for sorrow, so I carried her off. Well, if she was not my own, but she is not my own born, so I may say it,

there never was a better girl nor more kind-hearted nor generous never thinking anything she could do or give too much for them she loved and anything at all would do for herself the sweetest natured and tempered both it always was from this high the bond that held all together and joy of the house just like her namesake cried lord calamber plays your honour is not it late said lord calamber stretching himself and gaping i've walked a great way to-day the old woman lighted his rush-light showed him to his red check bed and wished him a very good night not without some slight sentiment of displeasure at his gaping thus at the panegyric on her darling grace before she left the room however her short-lived resentment vanished upon his saying that he hoped with her permission to be present as the wedding of the young couple early in the morning brian went to the priest to ask his reverence when it would be convenient to marry him and whilst he was gone mr dennis garrity came to the cottage to receive the rent and possession the rent was ready in gold and counted into his hand no occasion for a receipt for a new lace is a receipt in full for everything very well sir said the widow. I know nothing of law. You know best, whatever you direct, for you are acting as a friend to us now. My son got the attorney to draw the pair of new laces yesterday, and here

they are ready, all to sign in. Mr. Dennis said his brother must settle that part of the business, and that they must carry them up to the castle. But first give me the possession. Then, as he instructed her, she gave up the key of the door to him, and a bit of of the thatch of the house, and he raked out the fire and said every living creature must go out. Its only form of law, said he. And must my lodger get up and turn out, sir? said she. He must turn out, to be sure, not a living soul must be left in it, or its no legal possession properly.

Who is your lodger? On Lord Calamber's appearing, Mr. Dennis showed some surprise, and said, I thought you were lodging at Branagans, or not you the man who spoke to me at his house about the gold mines? No, sir, he never lodged at Branigans, said the widow. Yes, sir, I am the person who spoke to you about the gold mines at Brannigan's, but I did not like to lodge. Well, no matter where you liked to lodge,

you must walk out of this lodging now, if you please, my good friend. So Mr. Dennis pushed his lordship out by the shoulders, repeating, as the widow turned back and looked with some surprise and alarm, only for form's sake, only for form's sake, and then locking the door, took the key and put it into his pocket. The widow held out her hand for it. The form's gone through now, sir. Is not it?

Be pleased to let us in again? When the new lease is signed, I'll give you possession again, but not till then, for that's the law. So make away with you to the castle, and mind, added he, winking slyly, mind you take sealing money with you and something to buy gloves. Oh, where will I find all that? said the widow. I have it, mother, don't fret, said Grace. I have it. The price of what I can want. So let us go off to the castle without delay. Brian will meet us on the road, you know. They set off for a Clonbrony castle, Lord Calamber accompanying them. Brian,

them on the road father tom is ready dear mother bring her in and he'll marry us i'm not my own man till she's mine who knows what may happen who knows that's true said the widow better go to the castle first said grace and keep the priest waitin you can't use his reverence so said brian so she let him lead her into the priest's house and she did not make any of the awkward dragging's back or ridiculous scenes of grimace sometimes exhibited on these occasions. But blushing rosy red, yet with more self-possession than could have been expected from her timid nature, she gave her hand to the man she loved, and listened with attentive devotion to the holy ceremony. Ah, thought Lord Calamber, whilst he congratulated the bride, shall I ever be as happy as these poor people are at this moment. He longed to make them some little present, but all he could venture

at this moment was to pay the priest's dues. The priest positively refused to take anything. They are the best couple in my parish, said he, and I'll take nothing, sir, from you a stranger and my guest. Now, come what will. I'm a match for it. No trouble can touch me, said Brian. oh don't be bragan said the widow whatever trouble god sends he has given one now well help to bear it and sure i may be thankful said grace such good hearts must be happy shall be happy said lord calamber oh you're very kind said the widow smiling and i wouldn't doubt you if you had the power i hope then the agent will give you encouragement about them minds that we may keep you among us i am determined to settle among you warm-hearted generous people cried lord calamber whether the agent gives me encouragement or not added he it was a long walk to clonbroni castle the old woman as she said herself would not have been able for it but for a lift given to her by a friendly carman whom they met on the road with an empty car this carman was phineken who dissipated lord calabre's fears of meeting and being recognized by mrs rafferty for he in answer to the question of who is at the castle replied mrs raffertie will be in it afore night but she's on the road still there's none but old nick in it yet and he's more of a nager than ever for think that he would not pay me a far than for the carriage of his sister's boxes and ban-boxes down if you're going to have any dealings with him god grant she a safe

eleverence. Amen, said the widow and her son and daughter. Lord Calamber's attention was now engaged by the view of the castle and park of Conbroni. He had not seen it since he was six years old. Some faint reminiscence from his childhood made him feel or fancy that he knew the place. It was a fine castle, spacious park, but all about it from the broken piers at the great entrance to the messy gravel and loose steps at the hall door had an air of desertion and melancholy,

walks overgrown, shrubberies wild, plantations run up into bare poles, fine trees cut down and lying on the gravel in lots to be sold. A hill that had been covered with an oak wood in which in his childhood our hero used to play and which he called the black forest was gone, nothing to be seen but the wild. white stumps of the trees, for it had been freshly cut down to make up the last remittances.

And how it went when sold, but no matter, said Finnequin, it's all alike. It's the back way into the yard, I'll take you, I suppose. And such a yard. But it's no matter, repeated Lord Calamber to himself. It's all alike. In the kitchen a great dinner was dressing for Mr. Garrity's friends who were to make merry with him when the business of the day was over. Where's the keys of the cellar till I get out the claret for after dinner, says one,

and the wine for the cook, sure, there's venison, cries another. Venison, that's the way my lord's dear goes, says a third, laughing. I, sure, and very proper, when he's not here to eat him. Keep your nose out of the kitchen, young man, if you please, said the agent's cook, shutting the door in Lord Calamber's face. There's the way to the office, if you've money to pay, up the back stairs. No, up the grand staircase they must, Mr. Garrity ordered, said the footman, because the office is damp for him, and it's not there he'll see anybody today,

but in my lady's dressing-room. So up the grand staircase they went, and through the magnificent apartments, hung with pictures of great value, spoiling with damp. then isn't it a pity to see them there's my lady and all spoiling said the widow lord calambor stopped before a portrait of miss nugent shamefully damaged cried he pass on or let me pass if you please said one of the tenants and don't be stopping the doorway i have business more nor you with the agent said the surveyor where is he in the presence chamber replied another where should the vote voice roy b put in the presence chamber there was a full levy and fine smell of great coats oh would you put your hats on the silk cushions said the widow to some men in the doorway who were throwing off their greasy hats on a damask sofa why not where else if the lady was in it you wouldn't said she sighing no to be sure i wouldn't great news would i make no differ in the present of old Nick and my lady, said he in Irish.

Have I no sense or manners, good woman, think ye? added he, as he shook the ink out of his pen on the Wilton carpet when he had finished signing his name to a paper on his knee. You may wait long before you get to the speech of the great man, said another, who was working his way through numbers. They continued pushing forward till they came within sight of Mr. Nicholas Garrity, seated in state, and a worse countenance, or a more perfect picture of an insolent petty tyrant in office, Lord Calamber had never beheld.

We forbear all further detail of this levy. It's all the same, as Lord Calamber repeated to himself, on every fresh instance of roguery or oppression to which he was witness. And having completely made up his mind on the subject, he sat down quietly in the background, waiting till it should come to the widow's turn to be dealt with, for he was now interested only to see how she would be treated. The room gradually thinned. Mr. Dennis, Garrity, came in and sat down at the table to help his brother to count the heaps of gold.

Oh, Mr. Dennis, I'm glad to see you as coined as your promise, meeting me here, said the widow O'Neill, walking up to him. I'm sure you'll speak a good word for me. Here's the laces. Who will I offer this to? said she, holding the glove money and sealing money, for I'm strange and ashamed. Oh, don't be ashamed. There's no strangeness in bring in money or take on it,

said Mr. Nicholas Garrity, holding out his hand. Is this the proper compliment? I hope so, sir. Your honour knows best. Very well, slipping it into his private purse. now what's your business the laces to sign the rents all paid up leases why woman is a possession given up it was place your honor and mr dennis has the key of our little place in his pocket then i hope he'll keep it there your little place it's no longer yours i've promised it to the surveyor you don't think i'm such a fool as to renew to you at this rent mr dennis named the rent but anything your honour places anything at all that we can pay oh it's out of the question put it out of your head no rent you can offer would do for i've promised it to the surveyor

sir mr dennis knows my lord gave us his promise in writing of a renewal on the back of the old lace produce it here's the lace but the promise is rubbed out nonsense coming to me with the promise that's rubbed out who will listen to that in a court of justice do you think i don't know plays your honour but this i'm sure of my lord and miss nugent though but a child at the time god bless her who was by when my lord wrote it with his pencil, we'll remember it. Miss Nugent, what can she know of business? What has she to do with the management of my Lord Clondrony's estate, pray? Management? No, sir. Do you wish to get Miss Nugent turned out of the house?

Oh, God forbid. How could that be? Very easily, if you set about to make her meddle and witness in what my lord does not choose. Well, then, I'll never mention Miss Nugent's name in it at all. if it was ever so with me. But be placed, sir, to write over to my lord, and ask him, I'm sure he'll remember it. Write to my lord about such a trifle, trouble him about such nonsense. I'd be sorry to trouble him, then take it on my word and believe me, sir,

for I would not tell a lie, nor cheat rich or poor, eff in my power, for the whole estate, nor the whole world, for there's an eye above. can't nonsense take those leases off the table i never will sign them walk off ye canting hag it's an imposition i will never sign them you well then sir cried brian growing red with indignation for the law shall make you so it shall and you does good have been civil to my mother whatever you did for i'll stand by her while i've life and i know she has right and shall have law i saw the memorandum written before ever it went into your hand sir would ever became a fit after, and will swear to it, too. Swear away, my good friend, much your swear and will avail in your own case in a court of justice, continued old Nick. And against the gentleman of my brother's established character and property, said St. Denis,

what's your mother's character against a gentleman's like his? Character! Take care how you go to that, anyway, sir, cried Brian. Grace put her hand before his mouth. to stop him grace dear i must speak if i die for it sure it's for my mother said the young man struggling forward while his mother held him back i must speak oh he's ruined i see it said grace putting her hand before her eyes and he won't mind me go on let him go on pray young woman said mr garrity pale with anger and fear his lips quivering i shall be happy to take down his words write them and may all the world read it and welcome his mother and wife stopped his mouth by force write you dennis said mr garrity giving the pen to his brother for his hand shook so he could not form a letter write the very words and at the top pointing after warnan with malice prepents right then mother grace let me cried brian speaking in a smothered voice as their hands as their hands hands were over his mouth. Right then, that if you'd either of you a character like my mother,

you might defy the world, and your word would be as good as your oath. Oath, mind that, Dennis, said Mr. Garrity. Oh, sir, sir, won't you stop him? cried Grace, turning suddenly to Lord Calamber. Oh, dear, dear, if you haven't lost your feeling for us, cried the widow. Let him speak, said Lord Calamber in a tone of authority, let the voice of truth be heard truth cried st thenis and dropped to the pen and who the devil are you sir said old nick lord calamber i protest exclaimed a female voice and mrs rafferty at this instant appeared at the open door lord calamber repeated all present in different tones my lord i beg pardon continued mrs rafferty at this instant at the open door advancing as if her legs were tied.

Had I known you was down here, I would not have presumed. I'd better retire, for I see you're busy. You'd best for your mad sister, said St. Dennis, pushing her back, and we are busy. Go to your room, and keep quiet if you can. First, madam, said Lord Calamber, going between her and the door, let me beg that you will consider yourself, as at home in this house, whilst any circumstances make it desirable to you. The hospitality you showed me,

you cannot think that I now forget. Oh, my lord, you're too good. How few, too kind, kinder than my own! And bursting into tears, she escaped out of the room. Lord Colamber returned to the party round of the table, who were in various attitudes of astonishment, and with faces of fear, horror, hope, joy, doubt distress continued his lordship however incurred if not by vice will always find a refuge in this house i speak in my father's name for i know i speak his sentiments but never more shall vice said he darting such a look at the brother agents as they felt to the backbone never more shall vice shall fraud enter here

he paused and there was a momentary silence there spoke the true thing and the rail gentleman my own heart satisfied said brian folding his arms and standing erect then so is mine said grace taking breath with a deep sigh the widow advancing put on her spectacles and looking up close at lord calamra's face then it's a wonder i didn't know the family likeness lord Calamber now recollecting that he still wore the old greatcoat, threw it off. Oh, bless him! Then now I'd know him anywhere. I'm willing to die now, for we'll all be happy. My lord, since it is so, my lord, may I ask you, said Mr. Garrity, now sufficiently recovered to be able to articulate, but scarcely to express his ideas,

if what your lordship hinted just now, I hinted nothing, sir, I spoke plainly. I beg pardon, my lord, said old Nick, respecting voice was leveled at me, because if it was, my lord, trying to stand erect, let me tell your lordship, if I could think it was, if it did not hit you, sir,

no matter at whom it was levelled. And let me ask, my lord, if I may presume, whether, in what you suggested by the word fraud, your lordship had any particular meanan, said St. Denis. A very particular meaning, sir, feel in your pocket for the key of this widow's house and deliver it to her.

Oh, if that's all the meanan, with all the pleasure in life, I never meant to detain it longer than till the leases were signed, said St. Denis. And I'm ready to sign the leases this minute, said the brother. do it sir this minute i have read them i will be answerable to my father oh as to that my lord i have power to sign for your father he signed the leases they were duly witnessed by lord colamber i deliver this as my act and deed said mr garity my lord continued he you see at the first word from you and had i known sooner the interest you took in the family there would have been no difficulty for i'd make it a principle to oblige you my lord oblige me said lord calamber with disdain but when gentlemen and noblemen travel incognito and lodge in cabins added st benis with a satanic smile glancing his eye on grace they have good raisins no doubt

do not judge my heart by your own sir said lord calamber coolly no two things in nature can i trust be more different my purpose in travelling incognito has been fully i was determined to see and judge how my father's estates were managed and i have seen compared and judged i have seen the difference between the clonbroni and the colambor property and i shall represent what i have seen to my father as to that my lord if we are to come to that but i trust your lordship will suffer me to explain these matters go about your business my good friends you have all you want and my lord after dinner when you are cool i hope i shall be able to make you sensible that things have been represented to your lordship in a mistaken light and i flatter myself i shall convince you i have not only always acted the part of a friend to the family but am particularly willing to conciliate your lordship's good will said he sweeping the roulews of gold into a bag any accommodation in my power at any time i want no accommodation sir were i starving i would accept of none from you never can you conciliate my good will for you can deserve it. If that be the case, my lord, I must conduct myself accordingly, but it's fair to warn you before you make any representation to my lord Clangroney that if he should think of change in his agent there are accounts to be settled between us. That may be a consideration.

No, sir, no consideration. My father shall never be the slave of such a paltry consideration. Oh, very well, my lord, you know best. if you choose to make an assumption i'm sure i shall not object to the security your lordship will be of age soon i know i'm sure i'm satisfied but added he with a malicious smile i rather apprehend you don't know what you undertake i only premise that the balance of accounts between us is not what can properly be called a paltry consideration on that point perhaps sir you and i may differ very well my lord you will follow your own principles if it suits your convenience whether it does or not sir i shall abide by my principles denis the letters to the post when do you go to england my lord immediately sir said lord calamber his lordship saw new leases from his father to mr dennis garity lying on the table unsigned immediately repeated messrs nicholas and dennis with an air of dismay nicholas got up looked out of the window and whispered something to his brother who instantly left the room lord colambor saw the post-cheves at the door which had brought mrs rafferty to the castle and larry standing beside it his lordship instantly threw up the sash and holding between his finger and thumb a six-shilling piece cried larry my friend

let me have the horses you shall have him your honor said larry mr denis garrity appeared below speaking in a magisterial tone larry my brother must have the horses he can't place your honor they're engaged half a crown a crown half a guinea said mr dennis garrity raising his voice as he increased his proffered bribe to each offer larry replied you can't please your honor They are engaged. And looking up to the window at Lord Calamber, he said, As soon as they have eaten their oats, You shall have them. No other horses were to be had.

The agent was in consternation. Lord Calamber ordered that Larry should have some dinner, and whilst the postilion was eating and the horses finishing their oats, his lordship wrote the following letter to his father, which, to prevent all possibility of accident, he determined to put with his own hand, into the post-office at Clonbrony as he passed through the town.

My dear father, I hope to be with you in a few days. Lest anything should detain me on the road I write this to make an earnest request to you that you will not sign any papers or transact any farther business with Messrs. Nicholas or Dennis Garity before you see your affectionate son, Calamber. The horses came out.

larry sent word he was ready and lord calamber having first eaten a slice of his own venison ran down to the carriage followed by the thanks and blessings of the widow her son and daughter who could hardly make their way after him to the chaise-door so great was the crowd which had gathered on the report of his lordship's arrival long life to your honor long life to your lordship echoed on all sides just come and goin are you good-bye to you all good people then good-bye is the only word we wouldn't wish to hear from your honor for the sake of both landlord and tenant i must leave you now my good friends but i hope to return to you at some future time god bless you and speed you and a safe journey to your honor and a happy return you to us, and soon, cried a multitude of voices. Lord Calamber stopped at the chaise door and beckoned to the widow O'Neill, before whom others had pressed. An opening was made for her instantly. There, that was the very way his father stood with his feet on the steps, and Mess Nugent was in it. Lord Calamber forgot what he was going to say, with some difficulty recollected.

this pocket-book said he which your son restored to me i intend it for your daughter don't keep it as your son kept it for me without opening it let what is within side added he as he got into the carriage replace the cloak and gown and let all things necessary for a bride be bought for the bride that has all things to morrow has surely mickle to do shut the door and drive on lessons be with you cried the widow and god give you grace end of chapter twelve chapter thirteen of the absentee by maria edgeworth this librivox recording is in the public domain larry drove off at full gallop and kept on at a good rate till he got out of the great gate and beyond the sight of the crowd then pulling up he turned to lord calamber place your honor i did not know nor guess ye was my lord when i let you have the horses did not know who you was from adam i'll take my affidavit there's no occasion said lord clamber i hope you don't repent letting me have the horses now you do know who i am oh not at all sure i'm as glad as the best horse i ever crossed that your honor is my lord but i was only telling your honor that you might not be looking upon me as a time server i do not look upon you as a time-server larry but keep on that time may serve me in two words he explained his cause of haste and no sooner explained than understood larry thundered away through the town of conbroni bending over his horses plying the whip and lending his very soul at every lash with much difficulty lord calamber stopped him at the end of the town at the post-office the post was gone out

gone a quarter of an hour. Maybe we'll overtake the mail, said Larry, and as he spoke, he slid down from his seat and darted into the public-house, reappearing in a few moments with the copper of ale and a horn in his hand. He and another man held open the horse's mouths and poured the ale through the horn down their throats.

Now they'll go with spirit. And with the hope of overtaking the mail, Larry made them go for life, for death, as he said, but in vain. At the next stage at his own indoor, Larry roared for fresh horses till he got them, harnessed them with his own hands, holding the six-shilling piece which Lord Calamber had given him in his mouth all the while, for he could not take time to put it into his pocket. Speed ye, I wish I was driving you all the way then, said he. The other postilion was not yet ready. Then your honour sees, said he, putting his head into the carriage, concerning of them

Garities, old Nick and St. Dennis, the best part, that is, the worst part of what I told you, proved true, and I'm glad of it, that is, I'm sorry for it, but glad your honour knows it in time. So heaven prosper you, and may all the saints, barren St. Denis, have charge of you, and all belonging to you till we see you here again. And when will it be? I cannot say when I shall return to you myself, but I will do my best to send your landlord to you soon. In the meantime, my good fellow, keep away from the sign of the horseshoe, a man of your sense to drink and make an idiot and a brute of yourself. True, and it was only when I had lost hope I took to it, but now, bring me the book, one of yees out of the landlady's parlour, by the virtue of this book and by all the books that ever was shut and opened i won't touch a drop of spirits good or bad till i see your honor again or some of the family this time twelvemonth that long i'll live on hope but mind if you disappoint me i don't swear but i'll take to the whisky for comfort all the rest of my days

but don't be staying here wasting your time at thysen may bartley take the reins can't she cried he giving them to the fresh postilion and keep on for your life for the there's thousands of pounds dependent on the race. So, off, off, Bartley, with speed of light. Bartley did his best, and such was the excellence of the roads, that, notwithstanding the rate at which our hero traveled, he arrived safely in Dublin, and just in time to put his letter into the post office and to sail in that night's packet.

The wind was fair when Lord Calamber went on board, but before they got out of the bay, it changed, they made no way all night in the course of the next day they had the mortification to see another packet from dublin sail past them and when they landed at hollyhead were told the packet which had left ireland twelve hours after them had been in an hour before them the passengers had taken their places in the coach and engaged what horses could be had lord calamber was afraid that mr garrity was one of them a person exactly asked his description had taken four horses and set out half an hour before in great haste for london luckily just as those who had taken their places in the mail were getting into the coach lord calamber saw among them a gentleman with whom he had been acquainted in dublin a barrister who was come over during the long vacation to make a tour of pleasure in england when lord calamber explained the reason he had for being in haste to reach london he had the good nature to to give up to him his place in the coach. Lord Calamber travelled all night,

and they laid not one moment till he reached his father's house in London. My father at home? Yes, my lord, in his own room, the agent from Ireland with him, on particular business, desired not to be interrupted, but I'll go and tell him,

my lord, you are come. Lord Calamber ran past the servant as he spoke, made his way into the room, found his father, Sir Terence O'Fay and Mr. Garity, leases open on the table before them, a candle lighted, Sir Terence's ceiling, Garity emptying a bag of guineas on the table, and Lord Conbroni actually with a pen in his hand, ready to sign. As the door opened, Garity started back, so that half the contents of his bag rolled upon the floor. "'Stop, my dear father, I conjure you,' cried Lord Calambron.

springing forward and kneeling to his father at the same moment snatching the pen from his hand. Colamber, God bless you, my dear boy, at all offense, but how came you here, and what do you mean? said his father. Burn it, cried Sir Terrence, pinching the sealing wax, for I burnt myself with the pleasure of the surprise. Garrity, without saying a word, was picking up the guineas that were scattered upon the floor. how fortunate i am cried lord calamber to have arrived just in time to tell you my dear father before you put your signature to these papers before you conclude this bargain all i know all i have seen of that man neck garity honest old neck do you know him my lord said sir terence too well sir sir mr garity what have you done to offend my son i did not expect this said lord upon my conscience my lord nothing to my knowledge said mr garrity picking up the guineas but showed him every civility even so far as offering to accommodate him with cash without security and where will you find the other agent in ireland or anywhere else will do that to my knowledge i never did anything by word or deed to offend my lord calamber nor could not for i never saw him but for ten minutes in my days and then he was in such a foeman passion

begin his lordship's pardon owing to the misrepresentations he met with of me i presume from a parcel of blaggards that he went amongst incognito he would not let me or my brother dennis say a word to set him right but exposed me before all the tenantry and then threw himself into a hack and drove off here to stop the signan of these leases i perceive but i trust concluded he putting the replenished money-bag down with a hand heavy sound on the table, opposite to Lord Clonbrony, "'I trust, my Lord Clombroni will do me justice. That's all I have to say.' "'I comprehend the force of your last argument fully, sir,' said Lord Calamber. "'May I ask how many guineas there are in the bag? I don't ask whether they are my father's or not.'

"'They are to be your lordship's fathers, sir, if he thinks proper,' replied Garrity. "'How many? I don't know that I can justly, positively say.' five hundred suppose and they would be my father's if he signed those leases i understand that perfectly and understand that my father would lose three times that sum by the bargain my dear father you start but it is true is not this the rent sir at which you were going to let mr garrity have the land placing a paper before lord conbroni it is the very thing and here sir written with my own hand are copies of the proposals i saw from responsible respectable tenants offered and refused is it so or is it not mr garrity deny it if you can mr garrity grew pale his lips quivered he stammered and after a shocking convulsion of face could at last articulate only that there was a great difference between tenant and tenant his lordship must be sensible, especially for so large a rent. As great a difference as between agent and agent, I am sensible, especially for so large a property, said Lord Calamber with cool contempt.

You find, sir, I am well informed with regard to this transaction. You will find also that I am equally well informed with respect to every part of your conduct towards my father and his tenantry. if, in relating to him, what I have seen and heard, I should make any mistakes, you are here, and I am glad you are, to set me right, and to do yourself justice. Oh, as to that, I should not presume to contradict anything your lordship asserts from your own authority, where would be the use? I leave it all to your lordship, but as it is not particularly agreeable to stay to hear one's self-abused, Sir Terrence, I'll thank you to hand me my hat,

and if you'll have the goodness my lord vonbrony to look over finally the accounts before morning i'll call at your leisure to settle the balance as you find convenient as to the leases i'm quite indifferent so saying he took up his money-bag well you'll call again in the morning mr garrity said sir terence and by that time i hope we shall understand this misunderstanding better sir terence pulled lord plonbroni's sleeve don't let him go with the money it's much wanted let him go said lord calamber money can be had by honourable means eh talks as if he had the bank of england at his command as every young man does said sir terence lord calamber deigned no reply lord clonbroney walked undecidedly between his agent and his son looked at sir terence and said nothing mr garretty departed. Lord Clonbrony called after him from the head of the stairs. I shall be at home and at leisure in the morning. Sir Terrence ran downstairs after him. Lord Calamber waited quietly for their return. Fifteen hundred guineas at a stroke of a goose quill. That was a neat hit, narrowly missed of honest necks, said Lord Plonbrony. Too bad,

too bad, faith. I am much, very much obliged to you. colamber for that hint by to-morrow morning we shall have him in another tune and he must double the bag or quit said sir terence treble it if you please terry sure three times fives fifteen hundred down or he does not get my signature to those leases for his brother nor get the agency of the colambor estate calamber what more have you to tell of him for since he is making out his accounts against me it is no harm to have a per contra against him that may ease my balance very fair very fair said sir terence my lord trust me for remember in all the charges against him every item and when he can't clear himself if i don't make him buy a good character dear enough why say i'm a fool and don't know the value of character good or bad If you know the value of character, Sir Terrence, said Lord Calamber, you know that it is not to be bought or sold. Then turning from Sir Terence to his father, he gave a full and true account of all he had seen in his progress through his Irish estates, and drew a faithful picture both of the bad and good agent. Lurt Pland Brony, who had benevolent feelings and was fond of.

of his tenantry was touched. And when his son ceased speaking, repeated several times, "'Rascal! Rascal! How dare he use my tenant so? The O'Neill's in particular! Rascal! Bad heart! I'll have no more to do with him!' But, suddenly recollecting himself, he turned to Sir Terrance and added, "'That sooner said than done. I'll tell you honestly, Calamber, your friend, Mr. Burke, may be the best man in the world, but he is the worst man to apply to for a remittance or alone in a hurry.

He always tells me he can't distress the tenants. And he never, at coming into the agency even, said Sir Terrance, advanced a good round sum to the landlord by way of security for his good behavior. Now, Honest Neck did that much for us at coming in. And at going out is he not to be repaid, said Lord Calamber.

That's the devil, said Lord Clonbrony. That's the very reason I can't conveniently turn him out. I will make it convenient to you, sir, if you will permit me, said Lord Calamber. In a few days I shall be of age, and will join with you in raising whatever some you want to free you from this man. Allow me to look over his account, and whatever the honest balance may be let him have it my dear boy said lord clonbrony you're a generous fellow fine irish heart glad you're my son but there's more much more that you don't know added he looking at sir terence who cleared his throat and lord clonbroni who was on the point of opening all his affairs to his son stopped short calamber said he we will not say any

more of this at present, for nothing effectual can be done till you are of age, and then we shall see all about it. Lord Colamber perfectly understood what his father meant, and what was meant by the clearing of Sir Terrence's throat. Lord Clonbroni wanted his son to join him in opening the estate to pay his debts, and Sir Terence feared that if Lord Colamber were abruptly told the whole sum total of the debts. He would never be persuaded to join in selling or mortgaging so much of his patrimony as would be necessary for their payment. Sir Terrance thought that the young man,

ignorant, probably, of business and unsuspicious of the state of his father's affairs, might be brought by proper management to any measures they desired. Lord Plonbrony wavered between the temptation to throw himself upon the generosity of his son, and the immediate convenience of borrowing a sum of money from his agent to relieve his present embarrassments. Nothing can be settled, repeated he, till Colamber is of age, so it does not signify talking of it.

Why so, sir, said Lord Calamber. Though my act in law may not be valid till I am of age, my part, my part of my part promise, as a man of honour, is binding now, and I trust would be as satisfactory to my father as any legal deed whatever. Unnotedly, my dear boy, but— But what? said Lord Calamber, following his father's eye, which turned to Sir Terence O'Fay, as if asking his permission to explain. As my father's friend, sir, you ought, permit me to say, at this moment

to use your influence to prevail upon him to throw aside all reserve with a son whose warmest wish is to serve him and to see him at ease and happy generous dear boy cried lord clonbroni terence i can't stand it but how shall i bring myself to name the amount of the debts at some time or other i must know it said lord calamber i cannot be better prepared at any moment than the present never more disposed to give my assistance to relieve all difficulties blindfold i cannot be led to any purpose sir said he looking at sir terence the attempt would be degrading and futile blindfolded i will not be but with my eyes open i will see and go straight and prompt as heart can go to my father's interest without a look or thought to my own boy st patrick the spirit of a prince and an irish prince spoke there cried sir terence and if i'd fifty hearts you'd have all in your hand this minute at your service and warm blindfold you after that a man that would attempt it deserves to be shot and i'd have no sincere pleasure in life than shoot in him this moment was he my best friend but it's not clonbroni or your father my lord would act that way no more than sir terence there's the schedule of the debts drawing a paper from his bosom and i'll swear to the lot and not a man on earth could do that but myself lord calamber opened this the paper. His father turned aside, covering his face with both his hands. "'Tutman,' said Sir Terrence,

"'I know him now better than you. He will stand, you'll find, the shock of that regiment of figures. He is steel to the backbone and proof spirit.' "'I thank you, my dear father,' said Lord Calamber, for trusting me thus at once with a view of the truth. At first sight, it is, I acknowledge, knowledge worse than i expected but i make no doubt that when you allow me to examine mr garrette's accounts and mr mordecai's claims we shall be able to reduce this alarming total considerably my dear father you think we learn nothing but latin and greek at cambridge but you are mistaken the divil a pound nor a penny said sir terence for you have to deal with a jew and old nick and i'm not a match for the i don't know who is and i have no hope of getting any abatement i've looked over the accounts till i'm sick nevertheless you will observe that fifteen hundred guineas have been saved to my father at one stroke by his not signing those leases saved to you my lord not your father if you please said sir terence for now i'm upon the square with you i must be straight as an arrow and deal with you as the son

and friend of my friend. Before I was considering you only as the son and heir, which is quite another thing, you know. Accordingly, acting for your father here, I was making the best bargain against you I could. Honestly, now, I tell you, I knew the value of the lands well enough. We were as sharp as Garrity, and he knew it. We were to have had the difference from him, partly in cash and partly in balance of accounts, you comprehend, and you only would have been the loser, and never would have known it, maybe, till after we all were dead and buried, and then you might have set aside Garrity's lease easy, and no harm done to any but a rogue that deserved it, and, in the meantime, an accommodation to my honest friend, my lord, your father,

here. But, as fate would have it, you upset all by your progress incognition, through them estates well it's best as it is and i am better pleased to be as we are trustin all to a generous son's own heart now put the poor father out of pain and tell us what you'll do my dear in one word then said lord colambor i will upon two conditions either join my father in levying fines to enable him to sell or mortgage whatever portion of his estate is necessary for the payment of these debts, or, I will, in whatever other mode he can point out, as more agreeable or more advantageous to him, join in giving security to his creditors. Dear noble fellow, cried Sir Terrence, none but an Irishman could do it. Lord Clonbroni, melted to tears, could not articulate, but held his arms open to embrace his son. But you have not heard my conditions yet, said Lord Calamber.

Oh, confound the conditions, cried Sir Terrance. What conditions could he ask that I could refuse at this minute, said Lord Clonbrony? Nor I was it my heart's blood and were I to be hanged for it, cried Sir Terrence. And what are the conditions? That Mr. Garrity shall be dismissed from the agent's. see. And welcome and glad to get rid of him, the rogue, the tyrant, said Lord Conbroni, and to be beforehand with you in your next wish, put Mr. Burke into his place. I'll write the letter for you to sign my lord this minute, cried Terry, with all the pleasure in life.

No, it's my lord Calamber should do that in all justice. But what's your next condition? I hope it's no word. worse, said Lord Clamborone, that you and my mother should cease to be absentees. Oh, murder, said Sir Terrence, maybe that's not so easy, for there are two words to that bargain. Lord Clondroney declared that for his own part. He was ready to return to Ireland next morning, and to promise to reside on his estate all the rest of his days, that there was nothing he desired more, provided Lady Clonbroni would consent to it, but that he could not promise for her, that she was as obstinate as a mule on that point, that he had often tried, but that there

was no moving her, and that, in short, he could not promise on her part. But it was on this condition, Lord Calamber said, he must insist. Without this condition was granted, he would not. engage to do anything. Well, we must only see how it will be when she comes to town. She will come up from Buxton the day you're of age to sign some papers, said Lord Conbroni. But, added he with a very dejected look and voice, if all's to depend on my lady Conbronies

consenting to return to Ireland, I'm as far from all hope of being at ease as ever. my conscience we are all at sea again said sir terence lord colambor was silent but in his silence there was such an air of firmness that both lord clonbroni and sir terence were convinced and treaties would on this point be fruitless lord clonbroni sighed deeply but when it's ruin or safety and her husband and all belonging to her at stake the woman can't persist in being a Yule, said Sir Terrence. Of whom are you talking, said Lord Calamber. Of whom? Oh, I beg your lordship's pardon. I thought I was talking to my lord. But, in other words, as you are her son, I'm persuaded her ladyship, your mother, will prove herself a reasonable woman when she sees she can't help it.

So, my lord, Condroni, cheer up. A great deal may be done by the fear of Mordecai and an execution, especially now there's no prior creditor. Since there's no reserve between you and I now, my Lord Calamber, said Sir Terrence, I must tell you all, and how we shambled on those months while you were in Ireland. First, Mordecai went to law to prove I was in a conspiracy with your father, pretending to be prior creditor, to keep him off and out of his own, which, after a world of swearing and law, law always takes time to do justice, that's one comfort, the villain proved at last to be true enough, and so cast us, and I was forced to be paid off last week.

So there's no prior creditor or any shield of pretense that way. Then his execution was coming down upon us, and nothing to stay it, till I thought of a monthly annuity to Mordecai, in the shape of a wager. So, the morning after he cast us, I went to him. Mr. Morikai, says I, you must be pleased to see a man you've beaten so handsomely, and though I'm sore, both for myself and my friend, yet you see I can laugh still,

though an execution is no laugh and matter, and I'm sensible you've won in petto in your sleeve for my friend Lord Clonbroni, but I'll lay you a wager of a hundred-gifted, in paper that a marriage of his son with a certain heiress before next lady-day will set all to rights and pay you with a compliment too good heavens sir terence surely you said no such thing i did but what was it but a wager which is nothing but a dream and when lost as i am as sensible as you are that it must be why what is it after all but a bonus in a gentleman-like to Mordecai, which I grant you is more than he deserves, for stay in the execution till you be of age. And even for my lady Clonbronys' sake, though I know she hates me like poison, rather than have her disturbed by an execution,

I'd pay the hundred guineas this minute out of my own pocket, if I had him in it. A thundering knock at the door was heard at this moment. Never heed it. Let him thunder, said. said Sir Terrence. Whoever it is they won't get in, for my lord bid them let none in for their life. It's necessary for us to be very particular about the street door now, and I advise a double chain for it, and to have the footmen well tutored to look before they run to a double wrap, for a double rap might be a double trap. My lady and Miss Nugent, my lord, said a footman, throwing open the door.

My mother, Miss Nugent, cried Lord, clamber springing eagerly forward colambur here said his mother but it's all too late now and no matter where you are lady clonbroni coldly suffered her son to embrace her and he without considering the coldness of her manner scarcely hearing and not at all understanding the words she said fixed his eyes on his cousin who with a countenance all radiant with affectionate joy held out her hand to him. Dear Cousin Calamber, what an unexpected pleasure! He seized the hand, but as he was going to kiss it, the recollection of St. Omar crossed his mind. He checked himself and said something about joy and pleasure,

but his countenance expressed neither. And Miss Nugent, much surprised by the coldness of his manner, withdrew her hand and, turning away, left the room. Grace, darling, called Lord Clonbrony. Wither so fast before you've given me a word or a kiss. She came back and hastily kissed her uncle, who folded her in his arms. Why must I let you go?

And what makes you so pale, my dear child? I am a little tired. I will be with you again soon. her uncle let her go. Your famous Buxton Baths don't seem to have agreed with her, by all I can see, said Lord Conbrony. My Lord, the Buxton Baths are no way to blame, but I know what is to blame, and who is to blame, said Lady Conbrony in a tone of displeasure, fixing her eyes upon her son. Yes, you may well look confounded, Calamber, but it is, too late now. You should have known your own mind in time. I see you have heard it then,

but I am sure I don't know how, for it was only decided the day I left Buxton. The news could hardly travel faster than I did. Pray, how did you hear it? Hear what, ma'am, said Lord Calamber. Why, that Miss Brothurst is going to be married. Oh, is that all, ma'am, said our hero, much relieved. all now lord calamber you really are too much for my patience but i flatter myself you will feel when i tell you that it is your friend sir arthur beryl as i always prophesied who has carried off the prize from you but for the fear of displeasing my dear mother i should say that i do feel sincere pleasure in this marriage i always wished it my friend sir arthur from the first moment trusted me with the secret of his attachment. He knew that he had my warm good wishes for his success. He knew that I thought most highly of the young lady, but that I never

thought of her as a wife for myself. And why did not you? That is the very thing I complain of, said Lady Conbrony. But it is all over now. You may set your heart at ease, for they are to be married on Thursday, and poor Mrs. Broadhurst is ready to break her heart, for she was set upon a coronet for her daughter, and you, ungrateful as you are, you don't know how she wished you to be the happy man. But only conceive after all that had passed, Miss Broadhurst had the assurance to expect I would let my niece be her bridesmaid. Oh, I flatly refused, that is, I told Grace it could not be, and, that there might be no affront to Mrs. Broadhurst, who did not deserve it, I pretended Grace had never mentioned it, but ordered my carriage and left Buxton directly.

Grace was hurt, for she is very warm in her friendships. I am sorry to hurt Grace, but really I could not let her be bridesmaid. And that, if you must know, is what vexed her, and made the tears come in her eyes, I suppose, and I'm sorry for it. but one must keep up one's dignity a little after all miss broadhurst was only a citizen and really now a very odd girl never did anything like anybody else settled her marriage at last in the oddest way grace can tell you the particulars i own i am tired of the subject and tired of my journey my lord i shall take leave to dine in my own room to-day continued her ladyship as she quitted the room i hope her ladyship did not notice me said sir terence of fay coming from behind a window-curtain why terry what did you hide for said lord clonbroni hide i didn't hide nor wouldn't from any man livin let alone any woman hide no but i just stood looking out of the window behind this curtain that my poor lady conbroni might not be discomfited and she shocked by the sight of one whom she can't abide the very minute she come home. Oh, I've some

consideration. It would have put her out of humour worse with both of you, too, and for that there's no need as far as I see. So I'll take myself off to my coffee-house to dine, and maybe you may get her down and into spirits again. But for your lives, don't touch upon Ireland this night, not till she has fairly got the better of the marriage. Approbable, Oh, there's my wager to Mordecai gone at a slap. It's I that ought to be scolding you, my lord Calamber, but I trust you will do as well yet, not in point of purse, maybe.

But I'm not one of those that think that money's everything, though I grant you in this world there's nothing to be had without it, love accepted, which most people don't believe in, but not I in particular cases. So I leave you, with my blessing. And I have a notion at this time, that is better than my company. You're most devoted. The good-natured Sir Terrence would not be persuaded by Lord Clonbrony to stay.

Nodding at Lord Calamber as he went out of the room, he said, I've an eye in going to your heart's ease too. When I played myself, I never liked Stend his by. Sir Terrance was not deficient in penetration, but he never could help boasting of his. his discoveries. Lord Calamber was grateful for his judicious departure and followed his equally judicious advice not to touch upon Ireland this night. Lady Clonbrony was full of Buxton, and he was glad to be relieved from the necessity of talking, and he indulged himself in considering

what might be passing in Miss Nugent's mind. She now appeared in remarkably good spirit, for her aunt had given her a hint that she thought her out of humor because she had not been permitted to be Miss Broadhurst's bridesmaid, and she was determined to exert herself to dispel this notion. This it was now easy for her to do because she had, by this time, in her own imagination, found a plausible excuse for that coldness in Lord Calambrus' reception of her by which she had at first been hurt. she had settled it, that he had taken it for granted she was of his mother's sentiments respecting Miss Broadhurst's marriage, and that this idea, and perhaps the apprehension of her reproaches, had caused his embarrassment. She knew that she could easily set this

misunderstanding right. Accordingly, when Lady Conbrony had talked herself to sleep about Buxton, and was taking her afternoon's nap, as it was her custom to do when she had neither cards nor company to keep her awake, Miss Nugent began to explain her own sentiments, and to give Lord Calamber, as her aunt had desired, an account of the manner in which Miss Broadhurst's marriage had been settled. In the first place, said she, let me assure you that I rejoice in this marriage. I think your friend, Sir Arthur Barrow, is every way deserving of my friend, Miss Broadhurst, and this from me, said she, smiling, is no slight eulogium.

I have marked the rise and progress of their attachment, and it has been founded on the perception of such excellent qualities on each side that I have no fear for its permanence. Sir Arthur Barrel's honourable conduct in paying his father's debts, and his generosity to his mother and sisters whose fortunes were left entirely dependent upon him first pleased my friend it was like what she would have done herself and like in short it is what few young men as she said of the present day would do then his refraining from all personal expenses his going without equipage and without horses that he might do what he felt to be right whilst it exposed him contentious to the ridicule of fashionable young man or to the charge of avarice made a very different impression on miss broadhurst's mind her esteem and admiration were excited by these proofs of strength of character and of just and good principles if you go on you will make me envious and jealous of my friend said lord calamber you jealous oh it is too late now besides you cannot be jealous for you never loved

i never loved miss broadhurst i acknowledge there was the advantage sir arthur beryl had over you he loved and my friend saw it she was clear-sighted said Lord Calamber. She was clear-sighted, repeated Miss Nugent. But if you mean that she was vain and apt to fancy people in love with her, I can assure you that you are mistaken. Never was woman, young or old, more clear-sighted, to the views of those by whom she was addressed. No flattery, no fashion could blind her judgment.

She knew how to choose a friend, well, I am sure, said Lord Calamber. and a friend for life too i am sure you will allow and she had such numbers such strange variety of admirers as might have puzzled the choice and turned the brain of any inferior person such a succession of lovers as she has had this summer ever since you went to ireland they appeared and vanished like figures in a magic lantern she had three noble admirers rank in three different forms offered the themselves. First came in hobbling, rank and gout. Next, rank and gaming, then rank, very high rank, over head and ears in debt. All of these were rejected, and as they moved off, I thought Mrs. Broadhurst would have broken her heart. Next came fashion, with his head, heart, and soul in his cravat. He quickly made his bow, or rather his, nod and walked off, taking a pinch of snuff.

Then came a man of gallantry, but, whispered Miss Nugent, there was a mistress in the wood, and my friend could have nothing to do with that gentleman. Now, if she liked the man, interrupted Lord Clonbrony, and I suppose she did, for all women but yourself, Grace, like men of gallantry, Miss Broadhurst was a goose for refusing him on account of the mistress, because she might have been bought up and settled with a few thousand pounds.

"'Be that as it may,' said Miss Nugent. "'My friend did not like and would not accept of the man of gallantry, so he retired and comforted himself with a copy of verses. Then came a man of wit, but still it was wit without worth, and presently came worth without wit. She preferred wit and worth united, which she fortunately at last found, Lord Calamber,

in your friend, Sir Arthur Barrel. Grace, my girl, said her uncle. I'm glad to see you've got up your spirits again, though you were not to be bridesmaid. Well, I hope you'll be bride soon. I'm sure you ought to be. And you should think of rewarding that poor Mr. Salisbury, who plagues me to death whenever he can catch

told of me about you. He must have our definitive at last, you know, Grace. A silence ensued, which neither Miss Nugent nor Lord Calamber seemed willing or able to break. Very good company, Faith, you three, one of ye asleep and the other two saying nothing to keep one awake. Colamber, have you no Dublin news? Grace, have you no Buxton scandal? What was that Lady Clambroney told us you'd tell us about the oddness of Miss Broadhurst's settling her marriage? Tell me that, for I love to hear odd things. Perhaps you will not think it odd, said she. One evening, but I should begin by telling you that three of her admirers, besides Sir Arthur Barrel, had followed her to Buxton and had

been paying their court to her all the time we were there, and at last grew impatient for her decision. I, for her definitive, said Lord Conbrony, Miss Nugent was put out again, but resumed. So, one evening, just before the dancing began, the gentlemen were all standing round Miss Broadhurst. One of them said, I wish Miss Broadhurst would decide that whoever she dances with tonight

should be her partner for life, what a happy man he would be. But how can I decide? said Miss Broadhurst. I wish I had a friend to plead for me, said one of the suitors, looking at me. Have you no friend of your own? said Miss Broadhurst. Plenty of friends, said the gentleman. Plenty. Then you must be a very happy man, replied Miss Broadhurst.

Come, said she, laughing, I will dance with that man who can convince me that he has new relations accepted, one true. friend in the world. That man who has made the best friend, I dare say, will make the best husband. At that moment, continued Miss Nugent, I was certain who would be her choice. The gentleman all declared at first that they had abundance of excellent friends, the best friends in the world. But when Miss Broadhurst cross-examined them as to what their friends had done for them, or what they were willing to do, modern friendship dwindled into a ridiculously small compass. I cannot give you the particulars of the cross-examination, though it was conducted with great

spirit and humor by Miss Broadhurst, but I can tell you the result that Sir Arthur Beryl, by incontrovertible facts and eloquence warm from the heart, convinced everybody present that he had the best friend in the world. and Miss Broadhurst, as he finished speaking, gave him her hand, and he led her off in triumph. So, you see, Lord Calamber, you were at last the cause of my friend's marriage. She turned to Lord Calamber as she spoke these words, with such an affectionate smile and such an expression of open, inmost tenderness in her whole countenance, that our hero could hardly resist the impulse of his passion,

could hardly restrain himself from falling at her feet that instant and declaring his love. But St. Omar! St. Omar! It must not be. I must be gone, said Lord Pondbrony, pulling out his watch. It is time to go to my club, and poor Terry will wonder what has become of me. Lord Calamber instantly offered to accompany his father, much to Lord Clonbronys, and more to Miss Nugent's surprise. What, said she to herself, after so long an absence, leave me, leave his mother with whom he

always used to stay, on purpose to avoid me? What can I have done to displease him? It is clear it was not about Miss Brothurst's marriage he was offended, for he looked pleased, and like himself whilst I was talking of that. But the moment afterwards, what a constrained, unintelligible expression of countenance and leaves me to go to a club which he detests. As the gentleman shut the door on leaving the room, Lady Pondroney wakened, and, starting up, exclaimed,

What's the matter? Are they gone? Is Colamber gone? Yes, ma'am, with myam, with my own. my uncle. Very odd, very odd of him to go and leave me. He always used to stay with me. What did he say about me? Nothing, ma'am. Well, then I have nothing to say about him, or about anything, indeed, for I'm excessively tired and stupid. Alone in London's as bad as anywhere else. Ring the bell and we'll go to bed directly if you have no objection, Grace. made no objection. Lady Clonbrony went to bed and to sleep in ten minutes. Miss Nugent went to bed, but she lay awake, considering what could be the cause of her cousin Colambor's hard unkindness

and of his altered eye. She was openness itself, and she determined that the first moment she could speak to him alone she would at once ask for an explanation. With this resolution, She rose in the morning and went down to the breakfast room in hopes of meeting him, as it had formerly been his custom to be early, and she expected to find him reading in his usual place. End of Chapter 13. Chapter 14 of the absentee by Maria Edgeworth. This Librevox recording is in the public domain.

No, Lord Calamber was not in his accustomed place, reading in the breakfast room. nor did he make his appearance till both his father and mother had been some time at breakfast good morning to you my lord clamber said his mother in a reproachful tone the moment he entered i am much obliged to you for your company last night good morning to you calamber said his father in a more jocose tone of reproach i am obliged to you for your good company last night good morning to you lord calamber said his father in a more jocose tone of reproach i am obliged to you for your good company last night good morning to you lord calamber said Miss Nugent, and though she endeavored to throw all reproach from her looks and to let none be heard in her voice, yet there was a slight tremulous motion in that voice which struck our hero to the heart. I thank you, ma'am, for missing me, said he, addressing himself to his mother. I stayed away but half an hour. I accompanied my father to St. James's Street, and when I returned I found that everyone had retired to rest. Oh, was that the case?

said Lady Tonbroni. I own I thought it very unlike you to leave me in that sort of way. And lest you should be jealous of that half-hour when he was accompanying me, said Lord Conbrony, I must remark that, though I had his body with me, I had none of his mind, that he left at home with you ladies,

or with some fair one across the water, for the deuce of two words did he bestow upon me with all his pretense of accompanying me. lord colambor seems to have a fair chance of a pleasant breakfast said miss nugent smiling reproaches on all sides i have heard none on your side grace said lord conbrony and that's the reason i suppose he wisely takes his seat beside you but come we will not badger you any more my dear boy we have given him as fine a complexion amongst us as if he had been out hunting these three hours have not we grace when colambor has been a season or two more in lennon he'll not be so easily put out of countenance said lady conbroni you don't see young men of fashion here blushing about nothing no nor about anything my dear said lord clonbrony but that's no proof they do nothing they ought to blush for what they do there's no occasion for ladies to inquire said lady conbrony but this i know that it's a great disadvantage to a young man of a certain rank to blush.

For no people who live in a certain set ever do, and it is the most opposite thing possible to a certain air, which I own, I think Colamber wants. And now that he has done travelling in Ireland, which is no use in pint of giving a gentleman a travelled air, or anything of that sort, I hope he will put himself under my conduct for next winter's campaign in town. lord clonbroni looked as if he did not know how to look and after drumming on the table for some seconds said calamor i told you how it would be that's a fatal hard condition of yours not a hard condition i hope my dear father said lord calamber hard it must be since it can't be fulfilled or won't be fulfilled which comes to the same thing replied lord clandrony sighing.

I am persuaded, sir, that it will be fulfilled, said Lord Calamber. I am persuaded that when my mother hears the truth and the whole truth, when she finds that your happiness and the happiness of her whole family depend upon her yielding her taste on one subject. Oh, I see now what you are about, cried Lady Conbroni. You are coming round with your persuasions and prefaces to ask me to give up lennon and go back with you to ireland my lord you may save yourselves the trouble all of you for no earthly persuasions shall make me do it i will never give up my taste on that pint my happiness has a right to be as much considered as your father's calamber or anybody's and in one word i won't do it cried she rising angrily from the breakfast-table

there did not i tell you how it would be cried lord conbrony my mother has not heard me yet said lord calamber laying his hand upon his mother's arm as she attempted to pass hear me madam for your own sake you do not know what will happen this very day this very hour perhaps if you do not listen to me and what will happen said lady conbroni stopping short ay indeed she little knows said lord clonbrony what's hanging over her head hanging over my head said lady clonbrony looking up nonsense what an execution madam said lord calambor gracious me an execution said lady clonbrony sitting down again but i heard you talk of an execution months ago my lord before my son went to ireland and it blew over i heard no more of it it won't blow over now said lord clonbrony you'll hear more of it now sir terence ophay it was you may remember that settled it then well and can't he settle it now send for him since he understand these cases, and I will ask him to dinner myself, for your sake, and be very civil to him, my lord. All your civility, either for my sake or your own, will not signify a straw, my dear,

in this case. Anything that poor Terry could do, he'd do, and welcome without it, but he can do nothing. Nothing? That's very extraordinary. But I'm clear no one dare to bring a real execution. against us in earnest, and you are only trying to frighten me to your purpose, like a child, but it shan't do. Very well, my dear. You'll see. Too late.

A knock at the house door. Who is it? What is it? cried Lord Clondrony, growing very pale. Lord Calamber changed colour, too, and ran downstairs. Don't let him let anybody in for your life, Calamber, under any pretense, cried Lord Clonbrony, calling from the head of the stairs, then running to the window. By all that's good, it's Mordecai himself, and the people with him. Lean your head on me, my dear aunt, said Miss Nugent. Lady Clonbrony leant back, trembling and ready to faint.

But he's walking off now. The rascal could not get in. Safe for the present! cried Lord Clonbrony, rubbing his hands and repeating, safe for the present. safe for the present repeated lord calamber coming again into the room safe for the present hour he could not get in i suppose oh i warned all the servants well said lord conbroni and so did terry ay there's the rascal mordecai walking off at the end of the street i know his walk a mile off gad i can breathe again i am glad he's gone but he will come back and always lie in wait and some time or other when we're off our guard unawares he'll slide in slide in oh horrid cried lady conbroni sitting up and wiping away the water which miss nugent had sprinkled on her face were you much alarmed said lord calamber with a voice of tenderness looking at his mother first but his eyes fixing on miss nugent shockingly said lady conbrony i never thought it would really come to this it will really come to much more my dear said lord clonbrony that you may depend upon unless you prevent it lord what can i do i know nothing of business how should i lord clonbrony

but i know there's calamber i was always told that when he was of age everything should be settled and why can't he settle it when he's upon the spot and upon one condition i will cried lord calamber at what loss to my myself, my dear mother, I need not mention. Then I will mention it, cried Lord Clonbrony, at the loss it will be of nearly half the estate he would have had if we had not spent it. Loss! Oh, I am excessively sorry my sons to be at such a loss. It must not be.

It cannot be otherwise, said Lord Clonbrony, nor it can't be this way either, my lady Clonbrony, unless you comply with his condition and consent to return to Ireland. I cannot, I will not, replied Lady Clonbrony. Is this your condition, Calamber? I take it exceedingly ill of you. I think it very unkind and unhandsome and ungenerous and undutiful of you, Calamber, you, my son.

She poured forth a torrent of reproaches, then came to entreaties and tears. but our hero prepared for this had steeled his mind and he stood resolved not to indulge his own feelings or to yield to caprice or persuasion but to do that which he knew was best for the happiness of hundreds of tenants who depended upon them best for both his father and his mother's ultimate happiness and respectability it's all in vain cried lord conbroni i have no resource but one and i must condescend now to go to him this minute for Mordecai will be back and seize all. I must sign and leave all to Garrity. We'll sign, sign, my lord, and settle with Garrity. Calamber, I've heard all the complaints you brought over against that man. My lord spent half the night telling them to me, but all agents are bad, I suppose. At any rate, I can't help it. Sign, sign, sign my lord. He has money yes do go and settle with him my lord lord calamber and miss nugent at one and the same moment stopped lord clonbrony as he was quitting the room and then approached lady clonbroni with supplicating looks but she turned her head to the other side

and as if putting away their entreaties made a repelling motion with both her hands and exclaimed no grace nugent no calamber no no calamber i'll never hear of leaving lennon there's no living out of london i can't i won't live out of london i say her son saw that the londonomania was now stronger than ever upon her but resolved to make one desperate appeal to her natural feelings which though smothered he could not believe were wholly extinguished he caught her repelling hands and pressed them with respectful tenderness to his lips oh my dear mother you once loved your son said he loved him better than anything in this world if one spark of a affection for him remains, hear him now, and forgive him if he passed the bounds, bounds he never passed before of filial duty. Mother, in compliance with your wishes, my father left Ireland, left his home, his duties, his friends, his natural connections, and for many years he has lived in England, and you have spent many seasons in London.

Yes, in the very best company, in the very first circles, said Lady-Curface. clonbrony cold as the hybrid english are said to be in general to strangers yes replied lord calamber the very best company if you mean the most fashionable have accepted of our entertainments we have forced our way into their frozen circles we have been permitted to breathe in these elevated regions of fashion we have it to say that the duke of this and my lady that are of our acquaintance we may say more we may boast that we have vied with those whom we could never equal and at what expense have we done all this for a single season the last winter i will go no farther at the expense of a great part of your timber the growth of a century swallowed in the entertainments of one winter in london our hills to be bare for another half century to come but let the trees go i think more of your tenants of those left under the tyranny of a bad agent at the expense of every comfort every hope they enjoyed tenants who were thriving and prosperous who used to smile upon you and to bless you both in one cottage i have seen here lord clonbroni unable to restrain his emotion hurried out of the room then i am sure it is not my fault said lady conbroni for i brought my lord a large fortune and i am confident i have not after all spent more any season in the best company than he has among a set of low people in his muddling discreditable way and how has he been reduced to this said lord calamber did he not formerly live with gentlemen his equals in his own country his contemporaries men of the first station and character whom i met in dublin spoke of him in a manner that gratified the heart of his son he was respectable and respected at his own home but when he was forced away from that home deprived of his objects his occupation

induced him to live in London or at watering places where he could find no employments that were suitable to him, set down late in life in the midst of strangers, to him cold and reserved, himself too proud to bend to those who disdained him as an Irish man. Is he not more to be pitied than blamed for, yes, I his son must say the word, the degradation which has ensued. and do not the feelings which have this moment forced him to leave the room show that he is capable oh mother cried lord calamber throwing himself at lady clonbroni's feet restore my father to himself should such feelings be wasted no give them again to expand in benevolent in kind useful actions give him again to his tenantry his duties his country his home return to that home yourself dear mother leave all the nonsense of high life scorn the impertinence of these dictators of fashion by whom in return for all the pains we take to imitate to court them in return for the sacrifice of health fortune peace of mind they bestow sarcasm contempt ridicule and mimicry oh calamar calamar calamity I'll never believe it. Believe me, believe me, mother, for I speak of what I know. Scorn them, quit them.

Return to an unsophisticated people, to poor but grateful hearts. Still warm with the remembrance of your kindness, still blessing you for favors long since conferred, ever praying to see you once more. Believe me, for I speak. of what i know your son has heard these prayers has felt these blessings here at my heart felt and still feel them when i was not known to be your son in the cottage of the widow o'neal oh did you see the widow o'neill and does she remember me said lady clonbroni remember you and you miss nugent i have slept in in the bed. I would tell you more, but I cannot. Well, I never should have thought they would

have remembered me so long. Poor people, said Lady Clonbroni. I thought all in Ireland must have forgotten me. It is now so long since I was at home. You are not forgotten in Ireland by any rank. I can answer for that. Return home, my dearest mother. Let me see you once more among your natural friends. Beloved, respected, happy. Oh, return, let us return home, cried Miss Nugent, with a voice of great emotion. Return, let us return home, my beloved aunt, speak to us, say that you grant our request. She kneeled beside Lord Calamber as she spoke. Is it possible to resist that voice?

that look thought lord calamber if anybody knew said lady conbrony if anybody could conceive how i detest the sight the thoughts of that old yellow damask furniture in the drawing-room at clonbroni castle good heavens cried lord calamber starting up and looking at his mother in stupefied astonishment is that what you are thinking of ma'am the yellow damask furniture said her niece smiling oh if that's all that shall never offend your eyes again and my painted velvet chairs are finished and trust the furnishing that room to me the legacy lately left me cannot be better applied you shall see how beautifully it will be furnished oh if i had money i should like to do it myself but it would take an immensity to new furnish clonbroni castle properly the furniture in this house said miss nugent looking round would do a great deal towards it i declare cried lady conbroni that never struck me before grace i protest and what would not suit one might sell or exchange here and it would be a great amusement to me and i should like to set the fashion of something better in that country and i now, I should like to see those poor people and that widow O'Neill. I do assure you, I think I was happier at home, only that one gets, I don't know how, a notion one's nobody out of Lennon. But after all, there's many drawbacks in Lennon, and many people are very impertinent, I'll allow,

and if there's a woman in the world I hate, it is Mrs. Derville, and if I was leaving Lennon, I should not regret Lady Langdale neither, and Lady St. James is as cold as a stone. Calamber may well say frozen circles. These sort of people are really very cold, and have, I do believe, no hearts. I don't verily think there is one of them would regret me more. Hey, let me see. Dublin, the winter Marion Square, new furnished, and the summer Clonbroni County. castle? Lord Calamber and Miss Nugent waited in silence till her mind should have worked itself clear.

One great obstacle had been removed, and now that the yellow damask had been taken out of her imagination, they no longer despaired. Lord Clondroney put his head into the room. What hopes? Any? If not, let me go. He saw the doubting expression of Lady Clonbron. countenance, hope in the face of his son and niece. My dear, dear Lady Clonbroni, make us all happy by one word, said he, kissing her. You never kissed me so since we left Ireland before, said Lady Clonbrony. Well, since it must be so, let us go, said she. Did I ever see such joy, said Lord Clonbrony, clasping his hands,

I never expected such joy in my life. I must go and tell poor Terry. And off he ran. And now, since we are to go, said Lady Conbroni, pray let us go immediately, before the thing gets wind, else I shall have Mrs. Derville and Lady Langdale and Lady St. James, and all the world coming to condole with me, just to satisfy their own curiosity.

And then Miss Pratt, who hears everything that everybody says, and more than they say, will come and tell me how it is reported everywhere that we are ruined. Oh, I could never bear to stay and hear all this. I'll tell you what I'll do. You are to be of age the day after tomorrow, Calamber. Very well. There are some papers for me to sign. I must stay to put my name to them.

And that's done, that minute, I'll leave you and Lord Clangloney to settle all the rest, and I'll get into my carriage with grace and go down to you. to Buxton again, where you can come for me and take me up when you're all ready to go to Ireland, and we shall be so far on our way. Calamber, what do you say to this? That if you like it, madam, said he giving one hasty glance at Miss Nugent and withdrawing his eyes, it is the best possible arrangement. So, thought Grace, that is the best possible arrangement which takes us away.

if i like it said lady conbrony do be sure i do or i should not propose it what is calamor thinking of i know grace at all events what you and i must think of of having the furniture packed up and settling what's to go and what's to be exchanged and all that now my dear go and write a note directly to mr soho and bid him come himself immediately and we'll go and make out a catalogue this instant of what furniture i will have packed so with her head full of furniture lady conbroni retired i go to my business clamber and i leave you to settle yours in peace in peace never was our hero's mind less at peace than at this moment the more his heart felt that it was painful the more his reason told him it was necessary that he should part from greece nugent to his union with her there was an obstacle which his prudence told him ought to be insurmountable. Yet he felt that during the few days he had been with her, the few hours he had been near her, he had, with his utmost power over himself,

scarcely been master of his passion or capable of concealing it from its object. It could not have been done but for her perfect simplicity and innocence. But how could this be supported on his part? How could he venture, to live with this charming girl. How could he settle at home? What resource?

His mind turned towards the army. He thought that abroad and in active life he should lose all the painful recollections and drive from his heart all the resentments, which could now be only a source of unavailing regret. But his mother, his mother, who had now yielded her own taste to his entreaties, for the good of her family, she expected him to return and live with her in Ireland.

Though not actually promised or specified, he knew that she took it for granted, that it was upon this hope, this faith, she consented. He knew that she would be shocked at the bare idea of his going into the army. There was one chance. Our hero tried at this moment to think it the best possible chance that Miss Nugent might marry Mr. Salisbury and settle in England. On this idea he relied as the only means of extricating him from difficulties. It was necessary to turn his thoughts immediately to business,

to execute his promises to his father. Two great objects were now to be accomplished, the payment of his father's debts and the settlement of the Irish agent's accounts, and in transacting this complicated business, he derived considerable assistance from Sir Terence O'Fay and from Sir Arthur Barrell's solicitor, Mr. Edwards. Whilst acting for Sir Arthur on a former occasion, Lord Calamber had gained the entire confidence of this solicitor, who was a man of the first eminence. Mr. Edwards took the papers, and Lord Clonbroni's title deeds home with him,

saying that he would give an answer the next morning. he then waited upon lord calamber and informed him that he had just received a letter from sir arthur beryl who with the consent and desire of his lady requested that whatever money might be required by lord clonbroni should be immediately supplied on their account without waiting till lord calamber should be of age as the ready money might be of some convenience to him in accelerating the journey to ireland which sir arthur and lady beryl knew why his lordship's object. Sir Terrence O'Fay now supplied Mr. Edwards with accurate information as to the demands that were made upon Lord Clonbrony, and of the respective characters of the creditors. Mr. Edwards undertook to settle with the fair claimants, Sir Terrence with the rogues, so that by the advancement of ready money from the barrels, and by the detection of false and exaggerated charges, which Sir Terrance made among the inferior class, the debts were reduced

nearly to one-half of their former amount. Mordecai, who had been foiled in his file attempt to become sole creditor, had, however, a demand of more than seven thousand pounds upon Lord Clunbrony, which he had raised to this enormous sum in six or seven years by means well-known to himself. he stood the foremost in the list not from the greatness of the sum but from the danger of his adding to it the expenses of law sir terence undertook to pay the whole with five thousand pounds lord conbroni thought it impossible the solicitor thought it improvident because he knew that upon a trial a much greater abatement would be allowed but lord calamber was determined from the present embarrassments of his own situation to leave nothing undone that could be accomplished immediately. Sir Terrence, pleased with his commission,

immediately went to Mordecai. "'Well, Sir Terence,' said Mordecai, "'I hope you are come to pay me my hundred guineas, for Miss Broadhurst is married.' "'Well, Mr. Mordecai, what then? The aides of March are come, but not gone. stay if you plays mr mordecai till lady-day when it becomes due in the meantime i have a handful or rather an armful of bank-notes for you from my lord calambor mth said mordecai how's that he'll not be of age these three days don't matter for that he has sent me to look over your account and to hope that you will make some small abatement in the total

harky sir terence you think yourself very clever in things of this sort but you've mistaken your man i have an execution for the whole and i'll be damned if all your cunning shall make me take up with part be easy mr mordecai you shan't make me break your bones nor make me drop one actionable word against your high character for i know your clerk there with that long goose quill behind his ear would be ready evidence against me but i beg to know in one word whether you will take five thousand down and give lord kondrani a discharge no mr terence nor six thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine pounds my my demand is seven thousand one hundred and thirty pounds odd shillings if you have that money pay it if not i know how to get it and along with it complete revenge for all the insults i have received from that greenhorn his son patty braithy cried sir terence do you hear that remember that word revenge mine i call you to witness what sir will you raise a rebellion among my workmen no mr mordecai no rebellion and i hope you won't cut the boy's ears off for listening to a little of the brogue so listen my good lad now mr mordecai i offer you here before little goose quill five thousand pounds reddy penny take it or leave it take your money and leave your revenge or take your revenge and lose your money sir terence i value neither your threats nor your cunning good morning to you good morning to you mr mordecai but not kindly mr edwards the solicitor has been at the office to take off the execution so now you may have law to your heart's content and it was only to place the young lord that the old one consented to moi carry in this bundle to you

showing the bank-notes mr edwards employed cried mordecai why how the devil did lord conbroni get into such hands as his the execution taken off Well, sir, go to law. I am ready for you. Jack Latitat is a match for your sober solicitor. Good morning again to you, Mr. Mordecai. We're fairly out of your clutches, and we have enough to do with our money. Well, Sir Terrence, I must allow you have a very wheedling way. Here, Mr. Thompson, make out a receipt for Lord Clonbrony, and I never go to law with an old customer if I can help. it. This business settled, Mr. Soho was next to be dealt with. He came at Lady Clonbroni's summons, and was taking directions with the utmost sang-froix for packing up and sending off the very furniture for which he was not paid. Lord Calamber called him into his father's study, and, producing his bill, he began to point out various articles which were charged at prices

that were obviously extravagant. Why, really, my lord, they are a abundantly extravagant. If I charged vulgar prices, I should be only a vulgar tradesman. I, however, am not a broker, nor a Jew. Of the article superintendents, which is only 500 pounds, I cannot abate a doit.

On the rest of the bill, if you mean to offer ready, I mean without any negotiation to abate 30%, and I hope that is a fair and gentlemanly offer. Mr. Soho, there is your money. my lord calamber i would give the contents of three such bills to be sure of such noblemanly conduct as yours lady clonbroni's furniture shall be safely packed without costing her a farthing with the help of mr edwards the solicitor every other claim was soon settled and lord plonbroni for the first time since he left ireland found himself out of debt and out of danger old nick's account could not not be settled in London. Lord Calamber had detected numerous false charges and sundry impositions.

The land, which had been purposely led to run wild, so far from yielding any rent, was made a source of constant expense as remaining still unset. This was a large tract for which St. Dennis had at length offered a small rent. Upon a fair calculation of the profits of the ground and from other items in the account, Count, Nicholas Garrity Esquire appeared at last to be not the creditor, but the debtor to Lord Clonbrony. He was dismissed with disgrace, which perhaps he might not have felt if it had not been accompanied by pecuniary loss, and followed by the fear of losing his other agencies and by the dread of immediate bankruptcy.

Mr. Burke was appointed agent in his stead to the Clonbrony as well as the calamity. estate. His appointment was announced to him by the following letter. To Mrs. Burke at Calamber. Dear Madam, the traveller whom you so hospitably received some months ago was Lord Calamber. He now writes to you in his proper person. He promised you that he would, as far as it might be in his power, do justice to Mr. Burke's conduct and character by representing what he had done for Lord Clonbrony in the town of Calamber, and in the whole management of the tenantry and property under his care. Happily for my father, my dear madam,

he is now as fully convinced as you could wish him to be of Mr. Burke's merits, and he begs me to express his sense of the obligations he is under to him and to you. He entreats that you will pardon the impropriety of a letter, which as I assured you the moment I saw, he never wrote or read. This will, he says, cure him for life of putting his signature

to any paper without reading it. He hopes that you will forget that such a letter was ever received and that you will use your influence with Mr. Burke to induce him to continue to our family,

his regard and valuable services. Lord Pondbrony encloses a power of attorney, enabling Mr. Burke to act in future for him, if Mr. Burke will do him that favor, in managing the Clonbroni, as well as the Calamber estate. Lord Clonbrony will be in Ireland in the course of next month, and intends to have the pleasure of soon paying his respects in person to Mr. Burke at Colamber. I am, dear madam, your obliged guest and faithful servant, Calamber, Grovener Square, London.

Lord Colamber was so continually occupied with business during the two days previous to his coming of age, every morning at his solicitor's chambers, every evening in his father's study, that Miss Nugent never saw him but at breakfast or dinner, and though she watched for it, most anxiously, never could find an opportunity of speaking to him alone, or of asking an explanation of the change and inconsistencies of his manner. At last she began to be able to. to think that, in the midst of so much business of importance, by which she seemed harassed,

she should do wrong to torment him by speaking of any small disquietude that concerned only herself. She determined to suppress her doubts, to keep her feelings to herself, and to endeavor by constant kindness to regain that place in his affections, which she imagined that she had lost. Everything will go right again, thought she, and we shall all be happy when he returns with us to Ireland, to that dear home which he loves as well as I do. The day Lord Calamber was of age, the first thing he did was to sign a bond for five thousand pounds, Miss Nugent's fortune, which had been lent to his father, who was her guardian. This, sir, I believe, said he, giving it to his father as soon as signed.

This, I believe, is the first debt you would wish to have secured. well thought of my dear boy god bless you that has weighed more upon my conscience and heart than all the rest though i never said anything about it i used whenever i met mr salisbury to wish myself fairly down at the centre of the earth not that he ever thought of fortune i'm sure for he often told me and i believed him he would rather have miss nugent without a penny if he could get her than the first fortune in the empire but i'm glad she will not go to him penniless but i'm glad she will not go to him pennil for all that, and by my fault especially. There, there's my name to it. Do witness it, Terry. But, Calamber, you must give it to her. You must take it to grace.

Excuse me, sir, it is no gift of mine. It is a debt of yours. I beg you, we'll take the bond to her yourself, my dear father. My dear son, you must not always have your own way and hide everything good you do, or give me the honor of it. i won't be the j in borrowed feathers i have borrowed enough in my life and i've done with borrowing now thanks to you calamor so come along with me for i'll be hanged if ever i give this joint bond to miss nugent without you along with me leave lady clumbroni here to sign these papers terry will witness them properly and you come along with me and pray my lord said her ladyship order the carriage to the door for as soon as you'll witness them properly and you come along with me and pray my lord said her ladyship order the carriage to the door for as soon as you'll have my signature, I hope you'll let me off to Buxton."

"'Oh, certainly, the carriage is ordered. Everything ready, my dear.' "'And pray tell Grace to be ready,' added Lady Clonbrony. "'That's not necessary, for she is always ready,' said Lord Clonbrony. "'Come, Calamber,' added he, taking his son under the arm and carrying him up to Miss Nugent's dressing-room. They knocked, and were admitted. ready said lord conbroni ay always ready so i said here's colamber my darling continued he has secured your fortune to you to my heart's content but he would not condescend to come up to tell you so till i made him here's the bond put your hand to it calamber you were ready enough to do that when it cost you something and now all i have to ask of you is to persuade her to marry out of hand that i may see her happy before I die. Now my heart's at ease. I can meet Mr. Salisbury with a safe conscience. One kiss, my little grace. If anybody can persuade you, I'm sure it's that man that's now

leaning against the mantelpiece. It's colambor's will, or your heart's not made like mine, so I leave you. And out of the room walked he, leaving his poor son in as awkward, embarrassing and painful a situation as could well be conceived. Half a doubt of dozen indistinct ideas crossed his mind, quick, conflicting feelings made his heart beat and stop, and how it would have ended if he had been left to himself, whether he would have stood or fallen, have spoken, or have continued silent, can never now be known, for all was decided without the action of his will. He was awakened from his trance by these simple words from miss nugent i'm much obliged to you cousin colambor more obliged to you for your kindness in thinking of me first in the midst of all your other business than by your securing my fortune friendship and your friendship is worth more to me than fortune may i believe that is secured

believe it oh grace can you doubt it i will not it would make me too unhappy i will not you need not that is enough i am satisfied i ask no farther explanation you are truth itself one word from you is security sufficient we are friends for life said she taking his hand between both of hers are not we we are and therefore sit down cousin grace and let me claim the privilege of friendship and speak to you of him who aspires to be more than your friend for love life. Mr. Salisbury, said Miss Nurgent. I saw him yesterday. We had a very long conversation. I believe he understands my sentiments perfectly, and that he no longer thinks of being more to me than a friend for life. You have refused him. Yes. I have a high opinion of Mr. Salisbury's understanding, a great esteem for his character. I like his manners and conversation, but I have a high opinion of Mr. Salisbury's understanding, a great esteem for his character, I like his manners and conversation, but I do not love him,

and therefore, you know, I could not marry him. But, my dear Miss Nugent, with a high opinion, a great esteem, and liking his manners and conversation, in such a well-regulated mind as yours, can there be a better foundation for love? It is an excellent foundation,

said she, but I never went any farther than the foundation, and indeed I never wished to proceed any further. Lord Calamber scarcely dared to ask why, but after some pause, he said, I don't wish to intrude upon your confidence. You cannot intrude upon my confidence. I am ready to give it to you entirely, frankly. I hesitated only because another person was concerned. Do you remember at my aunt's gala a lady who danced with Mr. Salisbury? Not in the least. a lady with whom you and Mr. Salisbury were talking,

just before supper, in the Turkish tent. Not in the least. As we went down to supper, you told me you had had a delightful conversation with her that you thought her a charming woman. A charming woman, I have not the slightest recollection of her. And you told me that she and Mr. Salisbury

had been praising me, "'Alan vi l'un de l'oletre. oh i recollect her now perfectly said lord calamber but what of her she is the woman who i hope will be mrs salisbury ever since i have been acquainted with them both i have seen that they were suited to each other and fancy indeed i am almost sure that she could love him tenderly love him and i know i could not but my own sentiments you may be sure are all I ever told Mr. Salisbury. But of your own sentiments you may not be sure, said Lord Calamber, and I see no reason why you should give him up from false generosity. Generosity, interrupted Miss Nugent.

You totally misunderstand me. There is no generosity, nothing for me to give up in the case. I did not refuse Mr. Salisbury from generosity, but because I did not love him. perhaps my seeing this at first prevented me from thinking of him as a lover but from whatever cause i certainly never felt love for mr salisbury nor any of that pity which is said to lead to love perhaps added she smiling because i was aware that he would be so much better off after i refused him so much happier with one suited to him in age talents fortune and love what bliss did he but know his bliss were his. Did he but know his bliss, repeated Lord Calamber, but is not he the best judge of his own bliss? And am not I the best judge of mine, said Miss Nugent.

I go no farther. You are, and I have no right to go farther. Yet this much permit me to say, my dear grace, that it would give me sincere pleasure, that is real satisfaction to see you happily established thank you my dear lord calamber but you spoke that like a man of seventy at least with the most solemn gravity of demeanor i meant to be serious not solemn said lord calamber endeavouring to change his tone there now said she in a playful tone you have seriously accomplished the task my good uncle set so I will report well of you to him, and certify that you did all that in you lay to exhort me to marry, that you have even assured me that it would give you sincere pleasure,

that his real satisfaction to see me happily established. Oh, Grace, if you knew how much I felt when I said that, you would spare this raillery. I will be serious. I am most seriously convinced of the sincerity of your affection for you. for me i know my happiness is your object in all you have said and i thank you from my heart for the interest you take about me but really and truly i do not wish to marry this is not a mere commonplace speech but i have not yet seen any man i could love i like you cousin calamber better than mr salisbury i would rather live with you than with him you know that is a certain proof that i am not likely to be in love with him i am happy as i am especially now we are all going to dear ireland home to live together you cannot conceive with what pleasure i look forward to that lord calamber was not vain but love quickly sees love where it exists or foresees the probability the possibility of its existence he saw that miss nugent might love him tenderly passionately but that duty habit

the prepossession that it was impossible she should marry her cousin calamor a prepossession instilled into her by his mother had absolutely prevented her from ever yet thinking of him as a lover he saw the hazard for her he felt the danger for himself never had she appeared to him so attractive as at this moment when he felt the hope that he could obtain return of love but st omar why why is she a saint omar illegitimate no saint omar sans reproche my wife she cannot be i will not engage her affections swift as thoughts in moments of strong feeling pass in the mind without being put into words our hero thought all this and determined cost what it would to act honorably You spoke of my returning to Ireland, my dear Grace. I have not yet told you my plans. Plans? Are not you returning with us? said she precipitately. Are not you going to Ireland, home with us?

No, I am going to serve a campaign or two abroad. I think every young man in these times. Good heavens! What does this mean? What can you mean? cried she, fixing her eyes upon his as if she would read his very soul. Why? What reason? Oh, tell me the truth, and at once. His change of color, his hand that trembled and withdrew from hers, the expression of his eyes as they met hers,

revealed the truth to her at once. As it flashed across her mind, she started back. Her face grew crimson and in the same instant pale as death. Yes, you see, you feel the truth now, said Lord Calamber. You see, you feel that I love you passionately. Oh, let me not hear it, said she. I must not, ought not. Never till this moment did such a thought cross my mind.

I thought it impossible. Oh, make me think so still. I will. It is impossible that we can ever be united. I always thought so. said she, taking breath with a deep sigh. Then why not live as we have lived? I cannot.

I cannot answer for myself. I will not run the risk, and therefore I must quit you, knowing as I do, that there is an invincible obstacle to our union. Of what nature I cannot explain, I beg you not to inquire. You need not beg it, I shall not inquire. I have no curiosity, none, said she, in a past. dejected tone. That is not what I am thinking of in the least.

I know there are invincible obstacles. I wish it to be so. But if invincible, you, who has so much sense, honor and virtue? I hope, my dear cousin, that I have honor and virtue, but there are temptations to which no wise,

no good man will expose himself. Innocent creature, you do not know the power of love. i rejoice that you have always thought it impossible think so still it will save you from all i must endure think of me but as your cousin your friend give your heart to some happier man as your friend your true friend i conjure you give your heart to some more fortunate man marry if you can feel love marry and be happy honor virtue yes I have both, and I will not forfeit them. Yes, I will merit your esteem and my own by actions, not words, and I give you the strongest proof by tearing myself from you at this moment.

Farewell. The carriage at the door, Miss Nugent, and my lady calling for you, said her maid. Here's your key, ma'am, and here's your gloves, my dear ma'am. The carriage at the door, Miss Nugent, said lady clonbroni's woman coming eagerly with parcels in her hand as miss nugent passed her and ran downstairs and i don't know where i laid my lady's numbrilla for my life do you anne no indeed but i know here's my own young lady's watch that she has left bless me i never knew her to forget anything on a journey before then she is going to be married as sure as my name's lemestra and to my lord calamber for he has been here this hour to my certain bible knowledge oh you'll see she will be lady calamor i wish she may with all my heart said anne but i must run down they're waiting oh no said mrs lemestra seizing anne's arm and holding her fast stay you may safely for they're all kissing and taking leave and all that you know and my lady is talking on about mr soho and giving a hundred directions about legs of

tables and so forth, I warrant. She's always an hour after she's ready before she gets in, and I'm looking for the umbrella. So stay and tell me. Mrs. Petito wrote over word it was to be Lady Isabel, and then a contradiction came, it was turned into the youngest of the Kilpatrick's, and now, here he's in Miss Nugent's dressing-room to the last moment. Now, in my opinion, that am not censorious, this does not look so pretty but according to my verdict he is only making a fool of miss nugent like the rest and his lordship seems too like what you might call a male cockat or a masculine jilt no more like a masculine jilt than yourself mrs lemestra cried anne taking fire and my young lady is not a lady to be made a fool of i promise you nor is my lord likely to make a fool of any woman bless us all that's no great praise for any young nobleman, Miss Anne.

Mrs. Lomestra, Mrs. Lomestra, are you above? cried a footman from the bottom of the stairs. My lady's calling for you. Very well, very well, said sharp Mrs. Lomestra. Very well, and if she is, manners, sir, come up for one, can't you? And don't stand bawling at the bottom of the stairs, as if one had no ears to be saved. I'm coming as fast as I conveniently can. Mrs. Lemaestra stood in the doorway so as to fill it up, and

prevent Anne from passing. Miss Anne, Miss Anne, Mrs. La Mestra, cried another footman, my lady's in the carriage, and Miss Nugent. Miss Nugent, is she? cried Mrs. Lomestra, running downstairs, followed by Anne. Now, for the world in pocketpieces, wouldn't I have missed seeing him hand Miss Nugent in, for by that I could have judged definitively. My lord, I beg pardon, I'm afeard I'm late, said Mrs. Lomestra, as she passed Lord Calamber, who was standing, motionless, in the hall. I beg a thousand pardons, but I was hunting

high and low for my lady's numbrella. Lord Calamber did not hear or heed her. His eyes were fixed, and they never moved. Lord Clonbrony was at the open carriage door, kneeling on the step and receiving Lady Clonbronie's more last words for Mr. Soho. The two waiting-maids stood together on the steps. Look at our young Lord, how he stands, whispered Mrs. Lemestra to Anne, the image of despair, and she, the picture of death.

I don't know what to think. Nor I, but don't stare if you can help it, said Anne. Get in, get in, Mrs. Lemestra, added she, as Lord Clonbroni now rose from the step and made way for them. Aye, in with you,

in with you, Mrs. Lemestra, said Lord Clonbrony. Goodbye to you, and take care of your young mistress at buxton let me see her blooming when we meet again i don't half like her looks and i never thought buxton agreed with her buckston never did anybody harm said lady conbrony and as to bloom i'm sure if grace has not bloom enough in her cheeks this moment to please you i don't know what you'd have my dear lord rouge shut the door john oh stay calamber whereupon earth's calambur her ladyship, stretching from the farthest side of the coach to the window. Colamber! Colamber was forced to appear.

Colamber, my dear, I forgot to say that if anything detains you longer than Wednesday send night, I beg you will not fail to write, or I shall be miserable. I will write, at all events, my dearest mother, you shall hear from me. Then I shall be quite happy. Go on. The carriage drove on. i do believe colambor's ill i never saw a man look so ill in my life did you grace as he did the minute we drove on he should take advice i have a mind cried lady clonbroni laying her hand on the cord to stop the coachman i have a mind to turn about tell him so and ask what is the matter with him "'Better not,' said Miss Nugent.

"'He will write to you and tell you, "'if anything is the matter with him, "'better go on now to Buxton,' "'continued she, scarcely able to speak. "'Lady Clonbrony let go the cord. "'But what is the matter with you, my dear Grace? "'For you are certainly going to die, too.' "'I will tell you as soon as I can,

"'but don't ask me now, my dear aunt.' "'Grace, Grace, pull the cord!' cried Lady Conbrony. Mr. Salisbury's phaeton. Mr. Salisbury, I'm happy to see you. We're on our way to Buxton, as I told you. So am I, said Mr. Salisbury. I hope to be there before your ladyship.

Will you honor me with any commands? Of course I will see that everything is ready for your reception. Her ladyship had not any commands. Mr. Salisbury drove on rapidly. Lady Conbrony's ideas had now taken the Salisbury channel. you didn't know that mr salisbury was going to buxton to meet you did you grace said lady conbrony no indeed i did not said miss nugent and i am very sorry for it young ladies as mrs broadhurst says never know or at least never tell what they are sorry or glad for replied lady conbrony at all events grace my love it has brought the fine bloom back to your cheeks and i own I am satisfied.

End of Chapter 14. Chapter 15 of the absentee by Mariah Edgeworth. This Librevox recording is in the public domain. Gone. Forever gone from me, said Lord Calamber to himself as the carriage drove away. Never shall I see her more. Never will I see her more till she is married. Lord Calamber went to his own room, locked

the door, and was relieved in some degree by the sense of privacy, by the feeling that he could now indulge his reflections undisturbed. He had consolation. He had done what was honorable. He had transgressed no duty, abandoned no principle. He had not injured the happiness of any human being. He had not, to gratify himself, hazarded the peace of the woman he loved. He had not sought to win her heart. Of her innocent, her warm, susceptible heart, he might perhaps have robbed her. He knew it, but he had left it untouched, he hoped entire, in her own power, to bless with it hereafter some man worthy of her. In the hope that she might be happy, Lord Calamber felt relief, and in the consciousness

that he had made his parents happy, he rejoiced. But as soon as his mind turned that way for consolation, came the bitter, concomitant reflection that his mother, must be disappointed in her hopes of his accompanying her home and of his living with her in Ireland. She would be miserable when she should hear that he was going abroad into the army, and yet it must be so, and he must write and tell her so. The sooner this difficulty is off my mind, the sooner this painful letter is written, the better, thought he, it must be done. I will do it immediately. He snatched up his pen and began,

a letter. My dear mother. Miss Nuchent! He was interrupted by a knock at his door. A gentleman below, my lord, said a servant, who wishes to see you. I cannot see any gentleman. Did you say I was at home? No, my lord, I said you was not at home, for I thought you would not choose to be at home, and your own man was not in the way for me to ask, so I denied you. But the gentleman would not be denied. He said, I must come and see if you was at home. So, as he spoke as if he was a gentleman not used to be denied, I thought it might be somebody of consequence, and I showed him into the front drawing-room. I think he said he was sure you'd be at home for a friend from Ireland.

A friend from Ireland? Why did not you tell me that sooner? said Lord Calamber, rising and running downstairs. Sir James Brook, I dare say. No, not Sir James Brooke, but one he he was almost as glad to see, Count O'Halloran. My dear Count, the greater pleasure for being unexpected. I came to London but yesterday, said the Count, but I could not be here a day without doing myself the honour of pay in my respects to Lord Calamber. You do me not only honour but pleasure, my dear Count. People when they like one another always find each other out and contrive to meet, even in London.

You are too polite to ask what brought such a superannuated military as I am, said the Count, from his retirement into this gay world again. A relation of mine, who is one of our ministry, knew that I had some maps and plans and charts which might be serviceable in an expedition they are planning. I might have trusted my charts across the channel, without coming myself to convoy them, you will say. But my relation fancied, Jung-reliad. you know if they are good for aniffin are apt to overvalue the heads of old relations fancied that mine was worth bringing all the way from hallorin castle to london to consult with tte tte so you know when this was signified to me by a letter from the secretary in office private most confidential what could i do but do myself the honor to obey for though honor's voice cannot provoke the silent dust yet clattery soothes the dull cold ear of age. But enough and too much of myself, said the Count.

Tell me, my dear Lord, something of yourself. I do not think England seems to agree with you so well as Ireland, for, excuse me, in point of health, you don't look like the same man I saw some weeks ago. My mind has been ill at ease of late, said Lord Calamber. I, there's the thing, the body-pid. for the mind. But those who have feelin' minds, pain and pleasure altogether computed, have the advantage, or at least they think so, for they would not change with those who have them

not, were they to gain by the bargain the most robust body that the most selfish coxcomb or the heaviest dunce extant ever boasted. For instance, would you now, my lord, at this moment, change altogether with Major Benson or Captain Williamson, or even our friend really now upon honor. Would you? I'm glad to see you smile. I thank you for making me smile, for I assure you I want it. I wish, if you would not think me encroaching upon your politeness and kindness in honoring me with this visit, you see, continued he opening the doors of the back drawing-room and pointing to large packages. You see, we are all preparing for a march. My mother has left town half an hour ago. My father engaged to dine abroad. Only I at home,

and in this state of confusion, could I even venture to ask Count O'Halloran to stay and dine with me, without being able to offer him Irish Ortolens or Irish plums? In short, will you let me rob you of two or three hours of your time? I am anxious to have your opinion on a subject of some importance to me, and on one where you are peculiarly qualified to judge and decide for me. My dear Lord, frankly, I have nothing half so good or so agreeable to do with my time. Command my hours. I have already told you how much it flatters me to be consulted by the most helpless clerk in office. How much more about the private concerns of an enlightened young friend.

will Lord Calamber permit me to say? I hope so, for though the length of our acquaintance might not justify the word, yet regard and intimacy are not always in proportion to the time people have known each other, but to their mutual perception of certain attach-in qualities, a certain similarity and suitableness of character. The good count, seeing that Lord Calamber was in much distress of mind, did all he could to soothe him by kindness.

Far from making any difficulty about giving up a few hours of his time, he seemed to have no other object in London and no purpose in life but to attend to our hero. To put him at ease and to give him time to recover and arrange his thoughts, the count talked of indifferent subjects. I think I heard you mention the name of Sir James Brooke. Yes, I expected to have some sort of Sir James Brooke. seen him when the servant first mentioned a friend from Ireland, because Sir James had told me

that as soon as he could get leave of absence, he would come to England. He is come, is now at his estate in Huntingdonshire. Doon, what do you think? I will give you a leaden hint. Recollect the seal which the little de Cressy put into your hands the day you joined at Oranmore. Faithful to his motto, deeds not words, he is, this instant I believe, at deeds, title deeds, making out marriage settlements, getting ready to put his seal to the happy articles. Happy man, I give him joy, said Lord Calamber, happy man, going to be married to such a woman, daughter of such a mother.

Daughter of such a mother, that is indeed a great addition and a great security to his happiness, said the Count, such a family to marry into, good from generation. to generation, illustrious by character as well as by genealogy. All the sons brave and all the daughters chased. Lord Calamber with difficulty repressed his feelings. If I could choose, I would rather that a woman I loved were of such a family than that she had for her dower the minds of Peru. So would I, cried Lord Calamber.

I'm glad to hear you say so, my lord, and with such energy, so few young men of the present day look to what i call good connection in marion a man does not to be sure marry his wife's mother and yet a prudent man when he begins to think of the daughter would look sharp at the mother ay and back to the grandmother too and along the whole female line of ancestry true most true he ought he must and i have a notion said the count smiling, your lordship's practice has been conformable to your theory. I, mine, said Lord Calamber, starting and looking at the Count with surprise. I beg your pardon, said the Count. I did not intend to surprise your confidence, but you forget that I was present and saw the impression which was made on your mind by a mother's want of a proper sense of delicacy and propriety, Lady Dashfort.

Oh, Lady Dashfort, she was quite out of my head. And Lady Isabel? I hope she is quite out of your heart. She was never in it, said Lord Calamber. Only laid siege to it, said the Count. Well, I am glad your heart did not surrender at discretion, or rather without discretion. Then I may tell you, without fear or preface, that the Lady Isabel, who talks of refinement, delicacy, sense is going to stoop at once and marry Heathcock.

Lord Calamber was not surprised, but concerned and disgusted, as he always felt, even when he did not care for the individual, from hearing anything which tended to lower the female sex in public estimation. As to myself, said he, I cannot say I have had an escape, for I don't think I ever was in much danger. It is difficult to measure danger when it is over. Past danger, like past pain, is soon forgotten, said the old general. At all events, I rejoice in your present safety.

But is she really going to be married to Heathcock, said Lord Calamber. Positively, they all came over in the same packet with me, and they are all in town now, buying jewels and equipages and horses. Heathcock, you know, is as good as another man, apopre, for all those purposes. His father is dead and left him a large estate. What vulli-vous? As the French valet said to me on the occasion,

Seque monsieur et a nom de bien de bien as secondees. Lord Calamber could not help smiling. How they got Heathcock to fall in love is what puzzles me, said his lordship. I should as soon have thought of an old. oysters falling in love as that being. "'Oy own I should have sooner thought,' replied the Count, "'of his fallen in love with an oyster, "'and so would you if you had seen him as I did devour an oysters on shipboard.

"'Say, can the lovely heroine hope to vie with a fat turtle or a venison pie?' "'But that is not our affair. Let the Lady Isabel look to it.' dinner was announced and no farther conversation of any consequence passed between the count and lord colambor till the cloth was removed and the servants had withdrawn then our hero opened on the subject which was heavy on his heart my dear count to go back to the burial place of the nudgeons where my head was lost the first time i had the pleasure of seeing you you know or possibly said he smiling you do not know that i have a cousin of the name of nugent you told me replied the count that you had near relations of that name but how i do not recollect that you mentioned any one in particular i never named miss nugent to you no it is not easy to me to talk of her and impossible to me to describe her if you had come one half-hour sooner this morning you would have seen her i know she is exactly suited to your excellent taste but it is not at first sight she pleases most she gains upon the affections attaches the heart and unfolds upon the judgment in temper manners and good sense in every quality a man can or should desire in a wife i never saw her equal yet there is an obstacle an invincible obstacle the nature of which i cannot explain to you that forbids me to think of her as a wife

she lives with my father and mother they are returning to ireland i wished earnestly wished on many accounts to have accompanied them chiefly on my mother's but it cannot be the first thing a man must do is to act honorably and that he may do so he must keep out of the way of a temptation which he believes to be above his strength i will never see miss nugent again till she is married i must either stay in england or go abroad i have a mind to serve a campaign or two if i could get a commission in a regiment going to spain but i understand so many are eager to serve a campaign or two if i could get a commission in a regiment going to spain but i understand so many are eager to to go at this moment, that it is very difficult to get a commission in such a regiment. It is difficult, said the Count, but, added he, after thinking for a moment, I have it, I can get the thing done for you and directly. Major Benson, in consequence of that affair, you know, about his mistress, is forced to quit the regiment.

When the lieutenant colonel came to quarters and the rest of the officers heard the fact, they would not keep company with Benson and would not mess with him. I know he wants to sell out, and that regiment is to be ordered immediately to Spain. I will have the thing done for you, if you request it. First give me your advice, Count O'Halloran. You are well acquainted with the military profession, with military life. Would you advise me? I won't speak of myself because we judge better by general views than by particular cases.

would you advise a young man at present to go into the army? The Count was silent for a few minutes, and then replied, Since you seriously ask my opinion, my lord, I must lay aside my own prepossessions and endeavour to speak with impartiality. To go into the army in these days, my lord, is, in my sober opinion, the most absurd and base,

or the wisest and noblest thing a young man can do. To enter into the army with the hope of escaping from the application necessary to acquire knowledge, letters, and science, I run no risk, my lord, and say in this to you, to go into the army with the hope of escaping from knowledge, letters, science, and morality, to wear a red coat and an appellate, to be called captain, to figure at a ball, to lounge away time in country sports at country quarters was never, even in times of peace, creditable, but it is now absurd and base. Submitten to a certain portion of ennui and contempt, this mode of life for an officer

was formerly practicable, but now cannot be submitted to without utter irremediable disgrace. Officers are now, in general, men of education and information. Want of knowledge, sense, manners, must consequently be immediately detected, ridiculed, and despised in a military man. Of this, we have not long since seen lamentable examples in the raw officers who have lately disgraced themselves in my neighborhood in Ireland, that Major Benson and Captain Williamson. But I will not advert to such insignificant individuals. Such are rare exceptions. I leave them out of the question. I reason on general principles.

The life of an officer is not now a life of parade, of coxcombical, or of profligate idleness, but of active service, of continual hardship and danger. All the descriptions which we see in ancient history of a soldier's life, descriptions which in times of peace appeared like romance, are now realized, Military exploits fill every day's newspapers, every day's conversation. A martial spirit is now essential to the liberty and the existence of our own country. In the present state of things, the military must be the most honorable profession because the most useful. Every movement of an army is followed wherever it goes by the public hopes and fears.

Every officer must now feel besides this sense of culture. collective importance, a belief that his only dependence must be on his own merit, and thus his ambition, his enthusiasm, are raised. And when once this noble ardor is kindled in the breast, it excites to exertion and supports under endurance. But I forget myself, said the Count, checking his enthusiasm. I promised to speak soberly. If I had said too much, your own good sense, my lord, will correct me, and your good nature will forgive the prolixity of an old man, touched upon his favorite subject, the passion of his youth. Lord Calamber, of course, assured the Count that he was not tired. Indeed, the enthusiasm with which this old officer spoke of his profession and the high point of view in which he placed it increased our hero's desire to serve a campaign abroad.

Good sense, politeness, and experience of the world preserved Count O'Halphel from that foible, with which old officers are commonly reproached, of talking continually of their own military exploits. Though retired from the world, he had contrived by reading the best books and corresponding with persons of good information to keep up with the current of modern affairs, and he seldom spoke of those in which he had been formerly engaged. He rather too studiously avoided speaking of himself, and this fear of egotism diminished the peculiar interest he might have inspired. It disappointed curiosity and deprived those with whom he conversed of many entertaining and instructive anecdotes. However, he sometimes made exceptions to his general rule

in favor of persons who peculiarly pleased him, and Lord Calamber was of this number. He this evening, for the first time, spoke to his lordship of the years he had spent in the Austrian service, told him anecdotes of the Emperor, spoke of many distinguished public characters whom he had known abroad, of those officers who had been his friends and companions. Among others, he mentioned, with particular regard, a young English officer who had been at the same time with him in the Austrian service, a gentle English officer who had been at the same time with him in the Austrian service, a gentle of the name of Reynolds. The name struck Lord Calamber. It was the name of the officer who had been the cause of the disgrace of Miss St. Omar, of Miss Nugent's mother.

But there are so many Reynolds's. He eagerly asked the age, the character of this officer. He was a gallant youth, said the Count, but too adventurous, too rash. He fell, after distinguishing himself in a glorious manner, in his twentieth year, died in my arms.

Married or unmarried, cried Lord Calamber. Married. He had been privately married, less than a year before his death, to a very young English lady who had been educated at a convent in Vienna. He was heir to a considerable property, I believe, and the young lady had little fortune, and the affair was kept secret from the fear of offending his friends, or for some other reason I do not recollect the particulars.

Did he acknowledge his marriage? said Lord Calamber. Never till he was Diane, then he confided his secret to me. Do you recollect the name of the young lady he married? Yes, Miss St. Omar. St. Omar, repeated Lord Calamber, with an expression of lively joy in his countenance. But are you certain that you? my dear Count, that she was really married, legally married, to Mr. Reynolds? Her marriage has been

denied by all his friends and relations. Hers have never been able to establish it. Her daughter is, my dear Count, were you present at the marriage? No, said the Count. I was not present at the marriage. I never saw the lady, nor do I know anything of the affair, except that Mr. Reynolds, when he was dying, assured me that he was privately married to a Miss St. Omar, who was then Borden at a convent in Vienna. The young man expressed great regret at Levin her totally unprovided for, but said that he trusted his father would acknowledge her, and that her friends would be reconciled to her. He was not of age, he said, to make a well, but I think he told me that his child, who at that time was not born, would, even if it should

be a girl, inherit a considerable property. With this I cannot, however, charge my memory positively, but he put a packet into my hands, which he told me contained a certificate of his marriage, and I think he said, a letter to his father. This he requested that I would transmit to England by some safe hand. Immediately after his death, I went to the English ambassador, who was then leave in Vienna, and delivered the packet into his hands. He promised to have it safely delivered. I was a obliged to go the next day with the troops to a distant part of the country. When I returned, I inquired at the convent what had become of Miss St. Omar,

I should say Mrs. Reynolds, and I was told that she had removed from the convent to private lodgings in the town, some time previous to the birth of her choiled. The abbess seemed much scandalized by the whole transaction, and I remember I relieved her mind by assuring her that there had been a regular marriage. For poor young Reynolds' sake I made further inquiries about the widow, intended, of course, to act as a friend if she was in any difficulty or distress. But I found, on inquiry at her lodgings, that her brother had come from England for her,

and had carried her and her infant away. The act as scenes, continued the count, in which I was immediately afterwards engaged, drove the whole affair from my mind. Now that your questions have recalled them, I feel certain of the facts I have mentioned, and I am ready to establish them by my testimony. Lord Calamber thanked him with an eagerness

that showed how much she was interested in the event. It was clear, he said, either that the packet left with the ambassador had not been delivered, or that the father of Mr. Reynolds had suppressed the certificate of the marriage as it had never been acknowledged by him or by any of the family. Lord Calambert now frankly told the Count why he was so anxious about this affair,

and Count O'Halloran, with all the warmth of youth, and with all the ardent generosity characteristic of his country, entered into his feelings, declaring that he would never rest till he had established the truth. Unfortunately, said the Count, the ambassador who took the packet in charge is dead. I am afraid we shall have difficulty. But he must have had some secretary, said Lord Calamber,

who was his secretary? We can apply to him. His secretary is now Charger d'affaire in Vienna. We cannot get at him. Into whose hands have that ambassador's papers fallen? Who is his executor? said Lord Calamber. His executor, now you have.

have it, cried the Count. His executor is the very man who will do your business. Your friend, Sir James Brooke, is the executor. All papers, of course, are in his hands, or he can have access to any that are in the hands of the family. The family's seat is within a few miles of Sir James Brooks in Huntingdon, sure, where, as I told you before, he now is. I'll go to him immediately, set out in the mail this night, just in time, cried. cried Lord Calamber, pulling out his watch with one hand and ringing the bell with the other. Run and take a place for me in the mail for Huntingdon, go directly, said Lord Calamber to the servant. And take two places, if you please, sir, said the Count.

My lord, I will accompany you. But this Lord Calamber would not permit, as it would be unnecessary to fatigue the good old general, and a letter from him to Sir Jamesbrook would do all that the Count could affect by his presence, the search for the papers would be made by sir james and if the packet could be recovered or if any memorandum or mode of ascertaining that it had actually been delivered to old reynolds could be discovered lord clamber said he would then call upon the count for his assistance and trouble him to identify the packet or to go with him to mr reynolds to make further inquiries and to certify at all events the young man's dying acknowledgment of his marriage and of his child the place in the mail just in time was taken lord colambor sent a servant in search of his father with a note explaining the necessity of his sudden departure all the business which remained to be done in town he knew lord clonbroni could accomplish without his assistance then he wrote a few lines to his mother on the very sheet of paper on which a few hours before he had sorrowfully and slowly begun my dear mother Miss Nugent.

He now joyfully and rapidly went on, My dear mother and Miss Nugent, I hope to be with you on Wednesdays'-day-Send night, but if unforeseen circumstances should delay me, I will certainly write to you again. Dear Mother, believe me, your obliged and grateful son, Calamber. The Count, in the meantime,

wrote a letter for him to Sir James Brooke, describing the packet which he had given to the ambassador, and relating all the circumstances that could lead to its recovery lord calamber almost before the wax was hard seized possession of the letter the count seeming almost as eager to hurry him off as he was to set out he thanked the count with few words but with strong feeling joy and love returned in full tide upon our hero's soul all the military ideas which but an hour before filled his imagination were put to flight. Spain vanished, and Green Ireland reappeared. Just as they shook hands at parting, the good old general with a smile, said to him, I believe I had better not stir in the matter of Benson's commission till I hear more from you. My harangue in favour of the military profession will I fancy prove like most other herrings,

End of Chapter 15. Chapter 16 of the absentee by Mariah Edgeworth. This Librevox recording is in the public domain. In what words of polite circumlocution or of cautious diplomacy, shall we say or hint that the deceased ambassador's papers were found in shameful disorder? His Excellency's executor, Sir James Brooke, however, was indefatigable in his researches. He and Lord Calamber spent two whole days in looking over portfolios of letters and memorials, and manifestos and bundles of paper of the most heterogeneous

sorts. Some of them without any docket or direction to lead to a knowledge of their contents, others written upon in such a manner as to give an erroneous notion of their nature, so that it was necessary to untie every paper separately. At last, when they had to have had opened, as they thought, every paper, and, wearied and in despair, were just on the point of giving up the search, Lord Calamber spied a bundle of old newspapers at the bottom of a trunk. They are only old Vienna Gazettes, I looked at them, said Sir James. Lord Calamber, upon this assurance, was going to throw them into the trunk again, but, observing that the bundle had not been untied, he opened it, and, within side of the newspapers,

he found a rough copy of the Ambassador's Journal, and with it the packet, directed to Ralph Reynolds Senior Esquire, Old Court Suffolk, per favor of His Excellency, Earl Blank, a note on the cover signed O'Halloran, stating when received by him, and the date of the day when delivered to the Ambassador, seals unbroken.

Our hero was in such a transport of joy at the sight of this packet, and his friend Sir James Brooke, so full of his congratulations, that they forgot to curse the ambassador's carelessness, which had been the cause of so much evil. The next thing to be done was to deliver the packet to Ralph Reynolds' Old Court Suffolk. But when Lord Calamber arrived at Old Court Suffolk, he found all the gates locked, and no admittance to be had.

At last an old woman came out of the porter's lodge, who said Mr. Reynolds was not there, and she could not say where he was. After our hero had opened her heart, by the present of half a guinea, she explained that she, could not justly say where he was because that he never let anybody of his own people know where he was any day.

He had several different houses and places in different parts and far-off counties and other shires, as she heard, and by times he was at one and by times at another. The names of two of the places, Todrington and Little Restam, she knew,

but there were others to which she could give no direction. He had houses in odd parts of London, too, that he let, and sometimes when the lodger's time was out, he would go and be never heard of for a month maybe in one of them. In short, there was no telling or saying where he was or would be one day of the week by where he had been the last. When Lord Calamber expressed some surprise that an old gentleman, as he conceived Mr. Ralph Reynolds to be,

should change places so frequently, the old woman answered, that though her master was a deal on the wrong side of seventy, and though to look at him, you'd think he was glued to his chair and would fall to pieces if he should stir out of it, yet he was as alert and thought no more of going about than if he was as young as the gentleman who was now speaking to her.

It was old Mr. Reynolds' delight to come down and surprise, his people at his different places and see that they were keeping all tight what sort of man is he is he a miser said lord calamber he is a miser and he is not a miser said the woman now he'd think as much of the waste of a penny as another man would of a hundred pounds and yet he would give a hundred pounds easier than another would give a penny when he's in the humour but his humour is very odd and there's no number knowing where to have him. He's cross-grained, and more positiveer like than a mule, and his deafness made him worse in this, because he never heard what nobody said, but would say on his own way. He was very odd, but not cracked. No, he was as clear-headed when he took a thing the right way as any man could be, and as clever, and could talk as well as any member of Parliament, and good-natured and kind-hearted, where he would take a fancy. But then, maybe, it would be to a dog. He was remarkable fond of dogs, or a cat, or a rat, even, that he would

take a fancy, and think more of them than he would of a Christian. But, poor gentleman, there's great allowance, said she, to be made for him that lost his son and heir, that would have been heir to all, and the fine youth that he doted upon. But, continued the old woman, in whose mind the transitions from great to little, from serious, to trivial, were ludicrously abrupt. That was no reason why the old gentleman should scold me last time he was here, as he did, for as long as ever he could stand over me, only because I killed a mouse who was eating my cheese,

and before night he beat a boy for stealing a piece of that same cheese, and he would never, when down here, let me set a mouse-trap. Well, my good woman, interrupted Lord Calamber, who was little, interested in this affair of the mouse-trap and no wise curious to learn more of mr reynolds's domestic economy i'll not trouble you any farther if you can be so good as to tell me the road to todrington or to little wickham i think you call it little wickham repeated the woman laughing bless you sir where do you come from it's little rest them surely everybody knows near landtree and keep the pike till you come to the turn at rotherford and then then you strike off into the by-road to the left, and then again turn at the Ford to the right. But if you're going to Todrington, you don't go the road to market, which is at the first turn to the left, and the cross-country road where there's no quarter,

and Todrington lies, but for Restam, you take the road to market. It was some time before our hero could persuade the old woman to stick to Little Restam or to Todrington, and not to mix the directions for the different roads together, he took patience, for his impatience only confused his director the more. In process of time he made out and wrote down the various turns that he was to follow to reach Little Restum, but no human power could get her from Little Restum to Todrington, though she knew the road perfectly well, but she had, for the 17 last years, been used to go the other road,

and all the carriers went that way and passed the door, and that was all she could certify. Little Rustum, after turning to the left and right as often as his directory required, our hero happily reached. But unhappily, he found no Mr. Reynolds there, only a steward, who gave nearly the same account of his master

as had been given by the old woman and could not guess even where the gentleman might now be. Todrington was as likely as any place, but he could not say, say. Perseverance against fortune. To Todrington, our hero proceeded, through cross-country roads, such roads very different from the Irish roads. Wagon ruts into which the carriage wheels sunk nearly to the nave, and from time to time, slews of despond, through which it seemed impossible to drag, walk, wade, or swim, and all the time with a sulky postilion. Oh, how unlike my

my larry thought lord calamber at length in a very narrow lane going up a hill said to be two miles of ascent they overtook a heavy laden wagon and they were obliged to go step by step behind it whilst enjoying the gentleman's impatience much and the postilion's sultiness more the waggoner in his embroidered frock walked in state with his long sceptre in his hand the postilion muttered curses not loud but deep deep or loud no purpose would they have answered the waggoner's temper was proof against curse in or out of the english language and from their snails pace neither dickens nor devil nor any postilion in england could make him put his horses lord calambur jumped out of the chaise and walking beside him began to talk to him and spoke of his horses their bells their trappings the beauty and strength of the fill-horse the value of the whole team which his lordship happening to guess right within ten pounds and showing moreover some skill about road making and wagon wheels, and being fortunately of the wagoner's own opinion in the great question about conical and cylindrical rims, he was pleased with the young chap of a gentleman, and in spite of the chuffiness of his appearance and churlishness of his speech, this wagoner's bosom, being made of penetrating stuff, he determined to let the gentleman pass.

Accordingly, when halfway up the hill and the head of the four-horse came near an open gate, the wagoner, without saying one word or turning his head, touched the horse with his long whip, and the horse turned in at the gate, and then came, Dobbin, Ghee-ho, and strange calls and sounds, which all the other horses of the team obeyed, and the wagon turned into the farmyard.

Now, master, while I turn, you may pass. The covering of the wagon caught in the hedge as the wagon turned in, and as the sacking was drawn back some of the packages were disturbed a cheese was just rolling off on the side next lord calamber he stopped it from falling the direction caught his quick eye to ralph reynolds esquire todrington scratched out red lion square london written in another hand below now i have found him and surely i know that hand said lord calamer to himself looking more closely at the direction the original direction was certainly in a handwriting well known to him it was lady dashforts that there cheese that you're looking at so curiously said the wagner has been a great traveller for it came all the way down from london and now it's going all the way up again back on account of not finding the gentleman at home and the man that booked it told me as how it came from foreign parts.

Lord Calamber took down the direction, tossed the honest wagoner a guinea, wished him good-night, passed, and went on. As soon as he could, he turned into the London Road, at the first town got a place in the mail, reached London, saw his father, went directly to his friend Count O'Halloran, who was delighted when he beheld the packet. Lord Calamber was extremely eager to go immediately to old round. fattigued as he was for he had travelled night and day and had scarcely allowed himself mind or body one moment's repose heroes must sleep and lovers too or they soon will cease to be heroes or lovers said the count rest rest perturbed spirit this night and to-morrow morning we'll finish the adventure in red lion square or i will accompany you when and where you will if necessary to earth's remotest bound the next morning lord calamber went to breakfast with the count the count who was not in love was not up for our hero was half an hour earlier than the time appointed

the old servant ulich who had attended his master to england was very glad to see lord calamber again and showing him into the breakfast parlor could not help saying in defence of his master's punctuality your clocks i suppose my lord are half an hour faster than hours my master will be ready to the moment the count soon appeared breakfast was soon over and the carriage at the door for the count sympathized in his young friend's impatience as they were setting out the count's large irish dog pushed out of the house-door to follow them and his master would have forbidden him but lord calamber begged that he might be permitted to accompany them for his lordship recollected the old woman's having mentioned that mr reynolds was fond of dogs they arrived in red lion square found the house of mr reynolds and contrary to the count's prognostics found the old gentleman up and they saw him in his red night cap at his parlor window after some minutes running backwards and forwards of a boy in the passage and two or three peeps taken over the blinds by the old gentleman they were admitted. The boy could not master their names, so they were obliged reciprocally

to announce themselves, Count O'Halloran and Lord Calamber. The names seemed to make no impression on the old gentleman, but he deliberately looked at the Count and his lordship, a Sith studying what rather than who they were. In spite of the red nightcap

and a flowered dressing-gown, Mr. Reynolds looked like a gentleman, an odd gentleman but still a gentleman as count o'haleran came into the room and as his large dog attempted to follow the count's look expressed say shall i let him in or shut the door oh let him in by all means sir if you please i am fond of dogs and a finer one i never saw pray gentlemen be seated said he a portion of the complacency inspired by the sight of the dog diffusing its son over his manner towards the master of so fine an animal and even extending to the master's companion though in an inferior degree whilst mr reynolds stroked the dog the count told him that the dog was of a curious breed now almost extinct the irish greyhound of which only one nobleman in ireland it is said has now a few of the species remainin in his possession now lie down hannibal said the count mr reynolds we have taken the liberty those strangers of wighton upon you i beg your pardon sir interrupted mr reynolds but did i understand you rightly that a few of the same species are still to be had from one nobleman in ireland pray what is his name said he taking out his pencil the count wrote the name for him but observed that he had asserted only that a few of these dogs remained in the possession

of that nobleman. He could not answer for it, that they were to be had. "'Oh, I have ways and means,' said old Reynolds, and wrapping his snuff-box, and talking as it was his custom loud to himself. Lady Dashfort knows all those Irish lords. She shall get one for me. Aye, aye.' Count O'Halloran replied, as if the words had been addressed to him, Lady Dashfort is in England. I know it, sir, she is in London, said Mr. Reynolds hastily. What do you know of her?

I know, sir, that she is not likely to return to Ireland, and that I am, and so is my young friend here, and if the thing can be accomplished, we will get it done for you. Lord Calamber joined in this promise, and added that, if the dog could be obtained, he would undertake to have him safely sent over to England. sir gentlemen i'm much obliged that is when you have done the thing i shall be much obliged but maybe you are only making me civil speeches of that sir said the count smiling with much temper your own sagacity and knowledge of the world must enable you to judge for my own part i can only say cried lord calamber that i am not in the habit of being reproached with saying one thing and meaning another.

Hot, I see, said Old Reynolds, nodding as he looked at Lord Calamber. Cool, added he, nodding at the Count. But a time for everything, I was hot once. Both answers good for their ages. This speech, Lord Calamber and the Count tacitly agreed to consider as another a part which they were not to hear or seem to hear. The Count began again on the business of their visit, as he saw that Lord Calamber was boiling with impatience, and feared that he should boil over and spoil all. The Count commenced with, Mr. Reynolds, your name sounds to me like the name of a friend, for I had once a friend of that name.

I had once the pleasure, and a very great pleasure it was to me, to be intimately acquainted abroad on the continent, with a very ancient, and gallant youth, your son. Take care, sir, said the old man, starting up from his chair, and instantly sinking down again. Take care. Don't mention him to me, unless you would strike me dead on the spot. The convulsed motions of his fingers and face worked for some moments, whilst the Count and Lord Calamber, much shocked and alarmed, stood in silence.

The convulsed motions ceased, and the old man unbuttoned his waistcoat, as if to relieve some sense of oppression, uncovered his gray hairs, and after leading back to rest himself with his eyes fixed and in reverie for a few moments, he sat upright again in his chair, and exclaimed as he looked round. son did not somebody say that word who is so cruel to say that word before me nobody has ever spoken of him to me but once since his death do you know sir said he fixing his eyes on count o'alloran and laying his cold hand on him do you know where he was buried i ask you sir do you remember how he died too well too well cried the count so much effected as to be scarcely able to pronounce the words he died in my arms i buried him myself impossible cried mr reynolds why do you say so sir said he studying the count's face with a sort of bewildered earnestness impossible his body was sent over to me in a lead coffin and i saw it and i was asked and I answered, in the family vault. But the shock is over, said he. And, gentlemen, if the business of your visit relates to that subject, I trust I am now sufficiently composed to attend to you.

Indeed, I ought to be prepared, for I had reason for years to expect the stroke. And yet, when it came, it seemed sudden, it stunned me. Put an end to all my worldly prospects, left me childless, without a single descendant or relation near enough to be dear to me. I am an insulated being. No, sir, you are not an insulated being, said Lord Calamber. You have a near relation, who will, who must be dear to you,

who will make you amends for all you have lost, all you have suffered, who will bring peace and joy to your heart. You have a granddaughter. no sir i have no grand-daughter said old reynolds his face and whole form becoming rigid with the expression of obstinacy rather have no descendant than be forced to acknowledge an illegitimate child my lord i entreat as a friend i command you to be patient said the count who saw lord colambor's indignation suddenly rise so then this is the purpose of your visit continued old reynolds and you come from my enemies from the st omars and you are in a league with them continued old reynolds and all this time it is of my eldest son you have been talking yes sir replied the count of captain reynolds who fell in battle in the austrian service about nineteen years ago a more gallant and amiable youth never lived pleasure revived through the dull look of obstinacy in the father's eyes he was as you say sir a gallant and amiable youth once and he was my pride and i loved him too once but did not you know i had another

no sir we did not we are you may perceive totally ignorant of your family and of your affairs we have no connection whatever or knowledge of any of the st omars i detest the sound of the name cried lord oh good good well well i beg your pardon gentlemen a thousand times i am a hasty very hasty old man but i have been harassed persecuted hunted by wretches who got a scent of my gold. Often in my rage I longed to throw my treasure-bags to my pursuers and bid them leave me to die in peace. You have feelings, I see, both of you, gentlemen. Excuse me and bear with my temper. Bear with you, much enforced,

the best tempers will emit a hasty spark, said the Count, looking at Lord Calamber, who was now cool again, and who, with a countenance full of compassion, sat with his eyes fixed upon the poor, no, not the poor, but the unhappy old man. Yes, I had another son, continued Mr. Reynolds, and on him all my affections concentrated when I lost my eldest, and for him I desired to preserve the estate which his mother brought into my family.

Since you know nothing of my affairs, let me explain to you. that estate was so settled that it would have gone to the child even the daughter of my eldest son if there had been a legitimate child but i knew there was no marriage and i held out firm to my opinion if there was a marriage said i show me the marriage certificate and i will acknowledge the marriage and acknowledge the child but they could not and i knew they could not and i kept the estate for my darling boy cried the old gentleman with the exultation of successful positiveness again appearing strong in his physiognomy but suddenly changing and relaxing his countenance fell and he added but now i have no darling boy what use all all must go to the air at law or i must will it to a stranger a lady of quality who has just found out she is my reliance God knows how. I'm no genealogist, and sends me Irish cheese and Iceland moss for my breakfast, and her waiting gentle woman to nambi-pambi me. Oh, I'm sick of it all. See through it. Wish I was blind, wish I had a hiding place where flatterers could not find me. Pursued, chased, must change my lodgings again to-morrow. Will, will? i beg your pardon gentlemen again you were going to tell me sir something more of my eldest son and how i was led away from the subject i don't know but i meant only to have assured you that his memory was dear to me till i was so tormented about that unfortunate affair of his pretended marriage that at length i hated to hear him named but the heir at law at last will triumph over me no my good sir not if you triumph over yourself and do justice cried lord calamber if you listen to the truth which my friend will tell you and if you will read and believe the confirmation of it under your son's own hand in this packet

his own hand indeed his seal unbroken but how when where why was it kept so long and how came it into your hand Count O'Halloran told Mr. Reynolds that the packet had been given to him by Captain Reynolds on his deathbed, related the dying acknowledgment which Captain Reynolds had made of his marriage, and gave an account of the delivery of the packet to the ambassador who had promised to transmit it faithfully. Lord Calamber told the manner in which it had been mislaid, and at last recovered from among the deceased ambassador's papers. the father still gazed at the direction and re-examined the seals my son's hand-rating my son's seals but where is the certificate of the marriage repeated he if it is within sight of this packet i have done great in but i am convinced it never was a marriage yet i wish now it could be proved only in that case i have for years done great won't you open the packet sir said lord calamber mr reynolds looked up at him with a look that said i don't clearly know what interest you have in all this

but unable to speak and his hands trembling so that he could scarcely break the seals he tore off the cover laid the papers before him sat down and took breath lord colambor however impatient had now too much humanity to hurry the old gentleman he only ran for the spectacles which he espied on the chimney-piece rubbed them bright and held them ready mr reynolds stretched his hand out for them put them on and the first paper he opened was the certificate of the marriage he read it aloud and putting it down said now i acknowledge the marriage. I always said, if there is a marriage, there must be a certificate. And you see, now there is a certificate, I acknowledge the marriage. And now, cried Lord Calamber, I am happy, positively happy. Acknowledge your granddaughter, sir. Acknowledge Miss Nugent. Acknowledge who, sir? Acknowledge Miss Reynolds, your granddaughter. I ask no more. Do what you will with your fortune.

oh now i understand i begin to understand this young gentleman is in love but where is my granddaughter how shall i know she is my granddaughter i have not heard of her since she was an infant i forgot her existence i have done her great injustice she knows nothing of it sir said lord calamber who now entered into a full explanation of miss nugent's history and of her connection with his family and of his own attachment to her concluding the whole by assuring mr reynolds that his granddaughter had every virtue under heaven and as to your fortune sir i know that she will as i do say no matter what she will say interrupted old reynolds where is she when i see her i shall hear what she says tell me where she is she is let me see her i long to see whether there is any likeness to her poor father where is she let me see her immediately she is one hundred and sixty miles off sir at buckston well my lord and what is a hundred and sixty miles i suppose you think i can't stir from my chair but you are mistaken i think nothing of a journey of a hundred and sixty miles i'm ready to set off to-morrow this instant lord colambor said that he was sure reynolds would obey her grandfather's slightest summons as it was her duty to do and would be with him as soon as possible if this would be more agreeable to him i will write to her instantly said his lordship if you will commission me no my lord i do not commission i will go i think nothing i say of a journey of a hundred and sixty miles i'll go and set out to-morrow morning lord calamber and the count perfect

satisfied with the result of their visit now thought it best to leave old reynolds at liberty to rest himself after so many strong and varied feelings they paid their parting compliments settled the time for the next day's journey and were just going to quit the room when lord calamber heard in the passage a well-known voice the voice of mrs oh no my compliments and my lady dashfort's best compliments and i will call again no no cried old reynolds pulling his bell i'll have no calling again i'll be hanged if i do let her in now and i'll see her jack let in that woman now or never the lady's gone sir out of the street door after her then now or never tell her sir she was in a hackney coach old reynolds jumped up and went to her the window himself, and, seeing the Hackney coachman just turning, beckoned at the window, and Mrs. Petito was set down again, and ushered in by Jack, who announced her as, The lady, sir, the only lady he had seen in that house. My dear Mr. Reynolds, I'm so obliged to you for letting me in, cried Mrs. Petito, adjusting her shawl in the passage, and speaking in a voice and manner well mimicked after her

betters. You are so very good and kind, and I am so much obliged to you. You are not obliged to me, and I am neither good nor kind, said old Reynolds. You strange man, said Mrs. Petito, advancing gracefully in shawl-dripry, but she stopped short. My Lord Calamber and Count O'Halloran, as I hoped to be saved. I did not know Mrs. Petito was an acquaintance of your own. yours, gentlemen, said Mr. Reynolds, smiling shrewdly. Count O'Halloran was too polite to deny his acquaintance with a lady who challenged it by thus naming him, but he had not the slightest recollection of her, though it seems he had met

her on the stairs when he visited Lady Dashfort at Kilpatrickstown. Lord Calamber was indeed undeniably an old acquaintance, and as soon as she had recovered from her first natural start and vulgar exclamation, she, with very easy familiarity, hoped, My Lady Clonbrony and my Lord and Miss Nugent and all her friends in the family were well, and said, she did not know whether she was to congratulate his lordship or not upon Miss Broadhurst, my Lady Beryl's marriage, but she should soon have to hope for his lordship's congratulations for another marriage in her present family, Lady Isabel, to Colonel Heathcock, who has come in for a large portion, and they are buying the wedding clothes,

sights of clothes, and the diamonds this day. And Lady Dashfort and my lady Isabel sent me especially, sir, to you, Mr. Reynolds, and to tell you, sir, before anybody else, and to hope the cheese come safe up again at last, and to ask whether the Iceland moss agrees with your chocolate and is palatable. It's the most diluent thing upon the universal earth and the most tonic and fashionable. The Duchess of Torkaster takes it always for breakfast, and Lady St. James, too, is quite a convert, and I hear the Duke of V takes it, too. And the devil may take it, too, for anything that I care, said old Reynolds. Oh, my dear, dear sir, you are so refractory a patient. I am no patient at all ma'am and have no patience either i am as well as you are or my lady dashfort either and hope god willing long to continue so

mrs pettito smiled aside at lord calamber to mark her perception of the man's strangeness then in a cajoling voice addressing herself to the old gentleman long long i hope to continue so if heaven grants my daily and nightly prayers and by lady dashforts also so mr reynolds if the lady's prayers are of any avail you ought to be purely and i suppose ladies prayers have the precedency in efficacy but it was not of prayers and death-bed affairs i came commissioned to treat not of burials which heaven above forbid but of weddings my diplomacy was to speak and to premise my lady dashfort would have come herself in her carriage, but is hurried out of her senses, and my lady Isabel could not be in proper modesty, so they sent me as their double, to hope you, my dear Mr. Reynolds, who is one of the family relations, will honour the wedding with your presence. It would be no honour, and they know that as well as I do, said the intractable Mr. Reynolds. It will be no advantage either, but that they do not know as well as I do.

do. Mrs. Petito, to save you and your lady all trouble about me in future, please to let my Lady Dashfort know that I have just received and read the certificate of my son Captain Reynolds' marriage with Miss St. Omar. I have acknowledged the marriage, better late than never, and tomorrow morning, God willing, shall set out with this young nobleman for Buxton, where I hope to see and intend publicly to acknowledge my granddaughter, provided she will acknowledge me. Crimony! exclaimed Mrs. Petito. What new turns are here?

Well, sir, I shall tell my lady of the metamorphoses that have taken place, though by what magic, as I have not the honour to deal in the black art, I can't guess. But since it seems annoying and inopportune, I shall take my finale, and shall thus have a verbal PPC, as you are leaving town, it seems, for Buxton so early in the morning. My Lord Calamber, if I see rightly into a millstone, as I hope and believe I do on the present occasion, I have to congratulate your lordship, haven't I, upon something like a succession

or a windfall in this denouement? And I beg you'll make my humble respects acceptable to the sea-de-von-missue, grace nugent that was, and I won't derogate her by any other name in the interregnum, as I am persuaded it will only be a temporary name, scarce worth assuming, except for the honor of the public adoption, and that will, I'm confident, be soon exchanged for a Viscount's title, or I have no sagacity nor sympathy. I hope I don't, pray, don't let me, put you to the blush, my lord. The Lord Calamber would not have letter if he could have helped it.

Count O'Halloran, you're most obedient. I had the honour of meeting you at Kilpatrick's town, said Mrs. Petito, backing to the door and twitching her shawl. She stumbled, nearly fell down, over the large dog, caught by the door, and recovered herself. Hannibal rose and shook his ears. Poor fellow, you are of my acquaintance, too. She would have stroked his head, but Hannibal walked off

indignant, and so did she. Thus ended certain hopes, for Mrs. Petito had conceived that her diplomacy might be turned to account, that in her character of an ambassadress, as Lady Dashfort's double, by the aid of Iceland moss in chocolate, flattery properly administered, that by bearing with all her dear Mr. Reynolds's oddnesses and roughnesses, she might, in time, that is to say before he made a new will become his dear mrs pittito or for stranger things have happened and do happen every day his dear mrs reynolds mrs pettito however was good at her retreat and she flattered herself that at least nothing of this underplot had appeared and at all events she secured by her services in this embassy the long-looked-for object of her ambition lady d'ad dashfort's scarlet velvet gown not yet a thread the worse for the wear one cordial look at this comforted her for the loss of her expected octogenere and she proceeded to discomfit her lady by repeating the message with which strange old mr reynolds had charged her

so ended all lady dashfort's hopes of his fortune since the death of his youngest son she had been in de fashford's hopes of his fortune since the death of his youngest son she had been in de fat in her attentions and sanguine in her hopes. The disappointment affected both her interest and her pride as an intrigant. It was necessary, however, to keep her feelings to herself, for if Heathcock should hear anything of the matter before the articles were signed, he might be off. So she put him and Lady Isabel into her coach directly, drove to graze to make sure at all events of the jewel.

In the meantime, Count O'Halloran and Lord Colamber, delighted with the result of their visit, took leave of Mr. Reynolds, after having arranged the journey, and appointed the hour for setting off the next day. Lord Calamber proposed to call upon Mr. Reynolds in the evening and introduce his father, Lord Clondbroni, but Mr. Reynolds said, No, no, I'm not ceremonious. I have given you proofs enough of that, I think, in the short time we've been already, acquainted. Time enough to introduce your father to me when we are in a carriage, going our journey. Then we can talk and get acquainted. But merely to come this evening in a hurry and say, Lord Clonbrony, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Reynolds, Lord Clonbrony, and then bob our two heads at one another

and scrape one foot back and away, where's the use of that nonsense at my time of life, or at any time of life? No, no. We have enough to do without that, I dare say. good morning to you count o'haleran i thank you heartily from the first moment i saw you i liked you lucky too that you brought your dog with you twas hannibal made me first let you in i saw him over the top of the blind hannibal my good fellow i'm more obliged to you than you can guess so are we all said lord calamber hannibal was well patted and then they parted in returning home they met sir jane brook i told you said sir james i should be in london almost as soon as you have you found old reynolds just come from him how does your business prosper i hope as well as mine a history of all that had passed up to the present moment was given and hearty congratulations received where are you going now sir james cannot you come with us said lord calamber and the count impossible replied sir james but perhaps you-you are you going now sir james cannot you come with us said lord calamber and the count impossible replied sir james but perhaps you you can come with me i'm going to graze to give some old family diamonds either to be new set or exchanged count o'haleran i know you are a judge of these things pray come and give me your opinion better consult your bride-elect said the count no she knows little of the matter and cares less replied sir james not so this bride-elect or i mistake her much said the count as they passed by the wind

and saw Lady Isabel, who, with Lady Dashfort, had been holding consultation deep with the jeweller, and Heathcock playing Personage Mouet. Lady Dashfort, who had always, as Old Reynolds expressed it, her head upon her shoulders, presence of mind where her interests were concerned, ran to the door before the Count and Lord Calamber could enter, giving a hand to each, as if they had all parted the best friends in the world. world. How do, how do? Give you joy, give me joy, and all that, but mind, not a word, said she, laying her finger upon her lips, not a word before Heathcock of old Reynolds, or of the best part of the old fool, his fortune. The gentleman bowed, in sign of submission to her ladyship's commands, and comprehended that she feared Heathcock might be off, if the best part of his bride, her fortune or her expectations were lowered in value or in prospect how low is she reduced whispered lord calamber when such a husband is thought a prize and to be secured by a manoeuvre he sighed spare that generous sigh said sir james brooke it is wasted lady isabel as they approached turned from a mirror at which she was

trying on a diamond crescent. Her face clouded at sight of Count O'Hallran and Lord Calamber, and grew dark as hatred when she saw Sir James Brooke. She walked away to the farther end of the shop, and asked one of the shopmen the price of a diamond necklace which lay upon the counter. The man said, He really did not know.

It belonged to Lady Oranmore. It had just been new set for one of her ladyship's daughters, who is going to be married, sir James Brooke, one of the gentlemen, my lady, who are just come in. Then, calling to his master, he asked him the price of the necklace. He named the value, which was considerable. I really thought Lady Oranmore and her daughters were vastly too philosophical to think of diamonds, said Lady Isabel to her mother, with a sort of sentimental sneer in her voice

and countenance. But it is some comfort to me to find. in these patterned women philosophy and love do not so wholly engross the heart that they feel every vanity in fondness lost twould be difficult in some cases thought many present upon honor diamonds are cursed expense of things i know said heathcock but be that as it may whispered he to the lady though loud enough to be heard by others i've laid a damned round one wager that no woman's diamonds married this winter, under a countess, in Lennon, shall eclipse Lady Isabel Heathcock, and Mr. Gray hears to be judge. Lady Isabel paid for this promise one of her sweetest smiles, with one of those smiles which she had formerly bestowed upon Lord Calamber, and which he had once fancied expressed so

much sensibility, such discriminative and delicate application. our hero felt so much contempt that he never wasted another sigh of pity for her degradation lady dashford came up to him as he was standing alone and whilst the count and sir james were settling about the diamonds my lord calamber said she in a low voice i know your thoughts and i could moralize as well as you if i did not prefer laughing you are right enough and so am i and so is isabel we are all right for look here women have not always the liberty of choice and therefore they can't be expected to have always the power of refusal the mother satisfied with her convenient optimism got into her carriage with her daughter her daughter's diamonds and her precious son-in-law her daughter's companion for life the more i see said count o'haleran to lord calamber as they left the shop the more i find reason to congratulate you upon your escape my dear lord i owe it not to my own wit or wisdom said lord calamber but much to love and much to friendship added he turning to sir james brook here was the friend who early warned me against the siren's voice who before i knew lady isabel told me what i have since found to be true that two passions alternately govern her fate her business is love but her pleasure is hate

that is dreadfully severe sir james said count o'haleran but i am afraid it is just i am sure it is just or i would not have said it replied sir james brooke for the foibles of the sex i hope i have as much indulge as any man, and for the errors of passion has much pity, but I cannot repress the indignation, the abhorrence I feel against women, cold and vain, who use their wit and their charms only to make others miserable. Lord Calamber recollected at this moment Lady Isabel's look and voice when she declared that she would let her little finger be cut off to purchase the pleasure of inflicting on Lady Decrecy for one hour, the torture of jealousy. Perhaps, continued Sir James Brooke, now that I am going to marry into an Irish family,

I may feel, with peculiar energy, disapprobation of this mother and daughter on another account. But you, Lord Calamber, will do me the justice to recollect that, before I had any personal interest in the country, I expressed, as a general friend to Ireland, antipathy to those who return the hospitality they received from a warm-hearted people by publicly setting the example of elegant sentimental hypocrisy or daring disregard of decorum by privately endeavouring to destroy the domestic peace of families on which at last public as well as private virtue and happiness depend i do rejoice my dear calamber to hear you say that i had any share in saving you from the sun tyrant. And now I will never speak of these ladies more. I am sorry you cannot stay in town to see, but why should I be sorry? We shall meet again, I trust, and I shall introduce you, and you, I hope, will introduce me to a very different charmer. Farewell, you have my warm good wishes, wherever you go. Sir James turned off quickly to the street in which Lady Oranmore

lived, and Lord Calamber had not time to tell him that he knew and admired his intended bride. Count O'Halloran promised to do this for him. "'And now,' said the good Count, "'I am to take leave of you, and I assure you I do it with so much reluctance that nothing less than positive engagements to stay in town would prevent me from setting off with you to-morrow, but I shall be soon, very soon, at liberty to return to Ireland, and Clonbrony Castle, if you will get me leave,

I will see before I see Halloran Castle. Lord Calamber joyfully thanked his friend for this promise. Nay, it is to indulge myself. I long to see you happy, long to behold the choice of such a heart as yours. Pray, do not steal a march upon me. Let me know in time, I will leave everything, even the siege of for your wedding but i trust i shall be in time assuredly you will my dear count if ever that wedding if repeated the count if repeated lord calamber

obstacles which when we last parted appeared to me invincible prevented my having ever even attempted to make an impression on the heart of the woman i love and if you knew her count as well as as i do you would know that her love could not unsought be one of that i cannot doubt or she would not be your choice but when her love is sought we have every reason to hope said the count smiling that it may because it ought to be won by trod honour and affection i only require to be left in hope well i leave you hope said lord calamber miss nugent miss reynolds i should say has been in the habit of considering a union with me as impossible. My mother early instilled this idea into her mind. Miss Nugent thought that duty forbade her to think of me. She told me so. I have seen it in all her conduct and manners.

The barriers of habit, the ideas of duty, cannot, ought not, to be thrown down or suddenly changed in a well-regulated female mind. And you, I am sure, no way. enough of the best female hearts to be aware that time well well let this dear good charmer take her own time provided there's none given to affectation or prudery or coquetry and from all these of course she must be free and of course i must be content adieu au revoir end of chapter sixteen chapter seventeen of the absentee by maria edgeworth this librivox recording is in the public domain as lord colambor was returning home he was overtaken by sir terence o'fay well my lord cried sir terence out of breath you have led me a pretty dance all over the town here's a letter somewhere down in my safe pocket for you which has cost me trouble enough foe where is it now it's from miss nugent said he holding up the letter the direction to grovener square london had been

scratched out, and it had been redirected by Sir Terrence to the Lord Viscount Calamber at Sir James Brooks, Baronet, Brookwood, Huntingdonshire, or elsewhere, with speed. But the more haste, the worst speed, for away it went to Brookwood, Huntington, sure, where I knew if anywhere you was to be found. But as fate in the post would have it, there the letter went Corson after you, while you were running round and back and forwards and everywhere i understand to todrington and rest em and where not through all them english places where there's no cross-post so i took it for granted that it found its way to the dead letter office or was sticking up across a pane in the damned postmaster's window at huntingdon for the whole town to see and at a love-letter and some puppy to claim it under false pretense and you all the time without it and it might breed a coolness betrext you and miss newgion but my dear sir Terrence give me the letter now you have me oh my dear lord if you knew what a race i have had missing you here by five minutes and there by five seconds but i have you at last and you have it and i am paid this minute for all i liquidated of my substance by the pleasure i have in c and you cracked the seal and read it but take care you don't tumble over the orange woman orange barrows are a great nuisance

when one's study in a letter in the streets of london or the metropolis but never heed stick to my arm and i'll guide you like a blind man safe through the thick of them miss nudgeon's letter which lord clamber read in spite of the jostling of passengers and the incessant talking of sir terence was as follows let me not be the cause of banishing you from your home and your country where you would do so much good and make so many happy let me not be the cause of your breaking your promise to your mother of your disappointing my dear aunt so cruelly who has complied with all our wishes and who sacrifices to oblige us her favourite tastes how could she ever be happy in ireland how could clonbroni castle be a home to her without her son if you take away all she had of amusement and pleasure as it is called are not you bound to give her in their stead that domestic happiness which she can enjoy only with you and by your means. If instead of living with her, you go into the army, she will be in daily, nightly, anxiety and alarm about you, and her son will, instead of being a comfort, be a source of torment to her. I will hope that you will do now, as you have always hitherto done on every occasion where I have

seen you act what is right and just and kind come here on the day you promised my aunt you would before that time i shall be in cambridgeshire with my friend lady beryl she is so good as to come to buxton for me i shall remain with her instead of returning to ireland i have explained my reasons to my dear aunt could i have any concealment from her to whom from my earliest childhood i owe everything that kindness and affectionate could give. She is satisfied. She consents to my living henceforward with Lady Beryl. Let me have the pleasure of seeing by your conduct that you approve of mine, your affectionate cousin and friend, Grace Nugent. This letter, as may be imagined by those who, like him, are capable of feeling honorable and generous conduct, gave our hero exquisite pleasure. poor good-natured Sir Terence O'Fay enjoyed his lordship's delight, and forgot himself so completely that he never even inquired whether Lord Calamber had thought

of an affair on which he had spoken to him some time before, and which materially concerned Sir Terrence's interest. The next morning, when the carriage was at the door, and Sir Terence was just taking leave of his friend Lord Clondbroni, and actually in tears, wishing them all manner of happiness, though he said there was none left now in London, or the wide world even for him, Lord Calamber went up to him and said,

Sir Terrence, you have never inquired whether I have done your business. Oh, my dear, I'm not thinking of that now, time enough by the post. I can write after you, but my tots won't turn for me to business now, no matter. Your business is done. replied Lord Calamber. Then I wonder how you could think of it with all you had upon your mind and heart.

When anything's upon my heart, good morning to my head, it's not worth a lemon. Goodbye to you, and thank you kindly, and all happiness attend you. Goodbye to you, Sir Terence O'Fay, said Lord Clonbroni, and since it's so ordered,

I must live without you. Oh, you'll live better without me, my lord. I am not a good liver, I know, nor the best of all companions for a nobleman, young or old, and now you'll be rich and not put to your shifts and your wits. What would I have to do for you? Sir Terence Ophé, you know, was only the poor nobleman's friend, and you'll never want to call upon him again, thanks to your jewel, your pits diamond of a son there.

So we part here, and depend upon it, you're better without me. that's all my comfort or my heart would break the carriage is wait in this long time and this young lover's itching to be off god bless you both that's my last word they called in red lion square punctual to the moment on old mr reynolds but his window-shutters were shut he had been seized in the night with a violent fit of the gout which as he said held him fast by the leg but here said he giving lord calamber a letter here's what will do your business without me take this written acknowledgment i have penned for you and give my granddaughter her father's letter to read it would touch a heart of stone touched mine wish i could drag the mother back out of her grave to do her justice all one now you see at last i'm not a suspicious rascal however for i don't suspect you of palming a false granddaughter upon me. Will you, said Lord Calamber, give your granddaughter leave to come up to town

to you, sir? You would satisfy yourself, at least, as to what resemblance she may bear to her father. Miss Reynolds will come instantly, and she will nurse you. No, no, I won't have her come. If she comes, I won't see her. Shan't begin by nursing me.

Not selfish. As soon as I get rid of this gout, I shall be my own man, and young again, and I'll soon be after you across the sea. That shan't stop me. I'll come to what's the name of your place in Ireland, and see what lightness I can find to her poor father in this granddaughter of mine that you puffed so finally yesterday, and let me see whether she will wheedle me as finely as Mrs. Petito would. Don't get ready your marriage settlements do you hear till you have seen my will, which I shall

sign at, what's the name of your place? Write it down there. There's pen and ink. And leave me, for the twinge is coming, and I shall roar. Will you permit me, sir, to leave my own servant with you to take care of you? I can answer for his attention and fidelity. Let me see his face, and I'll tell you. Lord Calamber's servant was summoned. Yes, I like his face. God bless you. Leave me. lord calamber gave his servant a charge to bear with mr reynolds's rough manner and temper and pay the poor old gentleman every possible attention then our hero proceeded with his father on his journey and on this journey nothing happened worthy of note on his first perusal of the letter from grace lord calamber had feared that she would have left buxton with lady beryl before he could reach it but upon recollection he hoped that he hoped that he hoped that the few lines he had written addressed to his mother and miss nugent with the assurance that he should be with them on wednesday would be sufficient to show her that some great change had happened and consequently sufficient to prevent her from quitting her aunt till she could know whether such a separation would be necessary

he argued wisely more wisely than grace had reasoned for notwithstanding this note she would have had left buxton before his arrival but for lady beryl's strength of mind and positive determination not to set out with her till lord calamber should arrive to explain in the interval poor grace was indeed in an anxious state of suspense and her uncertainty whether she was doing right or wrong by staying to see lord calamber tormented her most my dear you cannot help yourself be quiet said lady beryl i will take the whole upon my conscience and i hope my conscience may never have anything worse to answer for grace was the first person who from her window saw lord calamber the instant the carriage drove to the door she ran to her friend lady beryl's apartment he is come now take me away not yet my sweet friend lie down upon this sofa, if you please, and keep yourself tranquil, whilst I go and see what you ought to do, and depend upon me for a true friend, in whose mind, as in your own, duty is the first object.

I depend on you entirely, said Grace, sinking down on the sofa, and you see I obey you. Many thanks to you for lying down when you can't stand. Lady Barrel went to Lady Con Brony's apart. she was met by sir arthur come my love come quick lord calamber is arrived i know it and does he go to ireland speak instantly that i may tell grace nugent you can tell her nothing yet my love for we know nothing lord calamber will not say a word till you come but i know by his countenance that he has good and extraordinary news they passed rapidly along the passage to lady clonbroni's room oh my dear dear lady beryl come or i shall die with impatience cried lady clonbury in a voice and manner between laughing and crying there now you have congratulated are very happy and very glad and all that now for mercy's sake sit down lord conbroni for heaven's sake sit down beside me here or anywhere now calamar begin and tell us all at once but as nothing is so tedious as a twice told tale lord calambor's narrative need not here be repeated he began with count o'haleran's visit immediately after lady conbroni had left london

and went through the history of the discovery that captain reynolds was the husband of miss st o'-omar and the father of grace the dying acknowledgment of his marriage the packet delivered by count o'haleran to the careless ambassador how recovered by the assistance of his executor sir james brook the travels from restham to todrington and thence to red lion square the interview with old reynolds and its final result all was related as succinctly as the impatient curiosity of lord calambor's auditors could desire oh wonder upon wonder and joy upon joy cried lady clonbroni so my darling grace is as legitimate as i am and an heiress after all where is she where is she in your room lady beryl oh calamer why wouldn't you let her be by lady beryl do you know he would not let me send for her though she was the person of all others most concerned for that very reason ma'am and that lord calamber was quite right and i am sure you must be sensible when you recollect that grace has no idea that she is not the daughter of mr nugent she has no suspicion that the breath of blame ever lighted upon her mother this part of the story cannot be announced to her with too much caution and indeed her mind has been so much harassed and agitated and she is at present so far from strong that great delicacy true very true lady barrow interrupted lady conbroni and i'll be as delicate as you please about it afterwards but in the first and foremost place i must tell her the best part of the story, that she's an heiress, madam. That never killed anybody. So, darting through all opposition,

Lady Clonbrony made her way into the room where Grace was lying. Yes, get up, get up my own grace, and be surprised. Well, you may, you are an heiress, after all. Am I, my dear aunt? said Grace. True as I'm Lady Clonbrony, and a very great heiress, and no more than a very great hei. And no more calamber's cousin than lady beryl here so now begin and love him as fast as you please i give my consent and here he is lady clonbrony turned to her son who just appeared at the door oh mother what have you done what have i done cried lady clonbrony following her son's eyes lord bless me grace fainted dead lady beryl oh what have i done my dear lady beryl what shall we do there her colour's coming again said lord clonbrony come away my dear lady clonbrony for the present and so will i though i long to talk to the darling girl myself but she is not equal to it yet when grace came to herself she first saw lady beryl leaning over her and raising herself a little she said what has happened i don't know yet i don't know whether i am happy or not then seeing lord calamber she sat quite upright you received my letter cousin i hope do you go to ireland with my aunt yes and with you i hope my beloved friend said calabye'st

you once assured me that i had such a share of your esteem and affection that the idea of my accompanying you to ireland was not disagreeable to you you flattered me that i formed part of your agreeable associations with home yes sit down by me won't you my dear lady beryl but then i considered you as my cousin lord calamber and i thought you felt the same towards me but now but now my charming grace said lord calamber kneeling beside her and taking her hand no invincible obstacle opposes my passion no invincible obstacle did i say let me hope that i may say no obstacle but what depends on the change in the nature of your sentiments. You heard my mother's consent. You saw her joy. I scarcely knew what I heard or saw, said Grace, blushing deeply, or what I now see and hear.

But of this I feel secure. Before I comprehend the mystery, before you explain to me the causes of your change of conduct, that you have never been actuated by caprice, but governed by wise and honourable motives. As to my going to Ireland, or remaining with Lady Beryl, she has heard all the circumstances. She is my friend and yours, a better friend cannot be. To her I appeal, she will decide for me what I ought to do.

She promised to take me from hence instantly if I ought to go. I did, and I would do so without hesitation, if any duty or any prudence required it. but after having heard all the circumstances i can only tell you that i willingly resign the pleasure of your company but tell her my dear lady beryl said lord calamber excellent friend as you are explain to her you can better than any of us all that is to be known let her know my whole conduct and then let her decide for herself and i shall submit to her decision it is difficult my dear grace to restrain the expression of love of passion such as i feel but i have some power over myself you know it and this i can promise you that your affections shall be free as air that no wishes of friends no interference nothing but your own unbiased choice will i allow if my life depended upon it to operate in my favor be assured my dearest grace added he smiling as he retired you shall have time to know whether you are happy or not

the moment he had left the room she threw herself into the arms of her friend and her heart oppressed with various feelings was relieved by tears a species of relief to which she was not habituated i am happy said she but what was the invincible obstacle what was the meaning of my aunt's words and what was the cause of her joy explain all this to me my dear friend for i am still as if i were in a dream with all the delicacy which lady clonbrony deemed superfluous lady beryl explained nothing could surpass the astonishment of grace on first learning that mr Nugent was not her father. When she was told of the stigma that had been cast on her birth, the suspicions, the disgrace to which her mother had been subjected for so many years, that mother whom she had so loved and respected, who had with such care instilled into the mind of her daughter the principles of virtue and religion, that mother whom grace had always seen the example of every virtue she taught, on whom her daughter never suspected that the touch

of blame, the breath of scandal, could rest. Grace could express her sensations only by repeating, in tones of astonishment, pathos, indignation, my mother, my mother, my mother. For some time she was incapable of attending to any other idea or of feeling any other sensations. when her mind was able to admit the thought her friend soothed her by recalling the expressions of lord palamber's love the struggle by which he had been agitated when he fancied a union with her opposed by an invincible obstacle grace sighed and acknowledged that in prudence it ought to have been an invincible obstacle she admired the firmness of his decision the honor with which she had acted toward her. her. One moment she exclaimed, Then, if I had been the daughter of a mother who had conducted herself ill, he never would have trusted me. The next moment she recollected with pleasure, the joy she had just seen in his eyes,

the affection, the passion that spoke in every word and look. Then dwelt upon the sober certainty that all obstacles were removed. and no duty opposes my loving him and my aunt wishes it my kind aunt and i may think of him you my best friend would not assure me of this if you were not certain of the truth oh how can i thank you for all your kindness and for that best of all kindness sympathy you see your calmness your strength of mind supports and tranquillizes me i would rather have heard all I have just learnt from you than from any other person living. I could not have borne it from anyone else. No one else knows my mind so perfectly. Yet my aunt is very good, and my dear uncle.

Should not I go to him? But he is not my uncle. She is not my aunt. I cannot bring myself to think that they are not my relations, and that I am nothing to them. you may be everything to them my dear grace said lady beryl whenever you please you may be their daughter grace blushed and smiled and sighed and was consoled but then she recollected her new relation mr reynolds her grandfather whom she had never seen who had for years disowned her treated her mother with injustice she could scarcely think of him with complacency yet when his age, his sufferings, his desolate state were represented, she pitied him,

and faithful to her strong sense of duty would have gone instantly to offer him every assistance and attention in her power. Lady Beryl assured her that Mr. Reynolds had positively forbidden her going to him, and that he had assured Lord Calamber he would not see her if she went to him. after such rapid and varied emotions poor grace desired repose and her friend took care that it should be secured to her for the remainder of the day in the meantime lord clonbroni had kindly and judiciously employed his lady in a discussion about certain velvet furniture which grace had painted for the drawing-room at clonbroni castle in lady clonbroni's mind as in some bad paintings there was no keeping. All objects, great and small, were upon the same level. The moment her son entered the room, her ladyship exclaimed,

"'Everything pleasant at once. Here's your father tells me, Grace's velvet furniture's all packed. Really, Soho's the best man in the world of his kind and the cleverest. And so, after all, my dear Calamber, as I always hoped and prophesied, at last you will marry an heiress. And Terry, said Lord Clonbrony, will win his wager from Mordecai. Terry, repeated Lady Clonbrony, that odious Terry, I hope, my lord, that he is not to be one of my comforts in Ireland. No, my dear mother, he is much better provided for than we could have expected.

One of my father's first objects was to prevent him from being any encumbrance to you we consulted him as to the means of making him happy and the knight acknowledged that he had long been casting a sheep's-eye at a little snug place that will soon be open in his native country the chair of assistant barrister at the sessions assistant barrister said my father but my dear terry you have all your life been evading the laws and very frequently breaking the peace do you think this has qualified you peculiarly for being a guardian of the laws sir terence replied yes sure set a thief to catch a thief is no bad maxim and did not mr cohun the scotchman get himself made a great justice by his making all the world as wise as himself about thieves of all sorts by land and by water and in the air too where he detected the mudlarks and is not barrington chief justice of botany bay my father now began to be seriously alarmed lest sir terence should insist upon his using his interest to make him an assistant barrister he was not aware that five years practice at the bar was a necessary accomplishment for this office when fortunately for all parties my good friend count o'haleran helped us out of the difficulty by starting an idea full of practical justice a literary friend of the count had been for some time promised a lucrative situation under government.

But unfortunately he was a man of so much merit and ability that they could not find employment for him at home, and they gave him a commission, I should rather say a contract, abroad, for supplying the army with Hungarian horses. Now, the gentleman had not the slightest skill in horse-flesh, and, as Sir Terence is a complete job, the count observed that he would be the best possible deputy for his literary friend we warranted him to be a thorough-going friend and i do think the coalition will be well for both parties the count has settled it all and i left sir terence comfortably provided for out of your way my dear mother and as happy as he could be when parting from my father learned calambra was assiduous in engaging his mother's attention upon any subject which could for the present draw her thoughts away from her young friend but at every pause in the conversation her ladyship repeated

so grace is an heiress after all so after all they know they are not cousins well i prefer grace a thousand times over to any other heiress in england no obstacle no objection they have my consent i always prophesied colamber would marry an heiress but why not marry directly her ardour and impatience to hurry things forward seemed now likely to retard the accomplishment of her own wishes and lord clonbroney who understood rather more of the passion of love than his lady ever had felt or understood saw the agony into which she threw her son and felt for his darling grace with a degree of delicacy and address of which few would have supposed lord clonbrone capable His lordship cooperated with his son in endeavors to keep Lady Clonbrony quiet, and to suppress the hourly thanksgivings of Grace's turning out an heiress. On one point, however, she vowed she would not be overruled. She would have a splendid wedding at Clonbrony Castle,

such as should become an heir and heiress, and the wedding she hoped would be immediately on their return to Ireland. she should announce the thing to her friends directly on her arrival at clonbrony castle my dear said lord clonbroni we must wait in the first place the pleasure of old mr reynolds's fit of the gout why that's true because of his will said her ladyship but a will's soon made is not it that can't be much delay and then there must be settlements said lord clonbrony they take time lovers like all the rest of mankind must submit to the laws delay in the meantime my dear as these buxton baths agree with you so well and as grace does not seem to be over and above strong for travelling a long journey and as there are many curious and beautiful scenes of nature here in derbyshire matlock and the wonders of the peak and so on which the young people would be glad to see together and may not have another opportunity soon, why not rest ourselves a little? For another reason, too, continued his lordship, bringing together as many arguments as he could,

for he had often found that though Lady Conbroney was a match for any single argument, her understanding could be easily overpowered by a number of whatever sort. Besides, my dear, here's Sir Arthur and Lady Beryl come to Buxton on purpose to meet us, and we owe them some compliment, and something more than compliment, I think. So I don't see why we should be in a hurry to leave them or quit Buxton, a few weeks sooner or later can't signify, and Clonbrony Castle will be getting all the while into better order for us. Burke has gone down there, and if we stay here quietly,

there will be time for the velvet furniture to get there before us and to be unpacked and up in the drawing-room. That's true, my lord, said Lady Clonbrony, and there is a great deal of reason in all you say. So I second that motion, as Colamber I see subscribes to it. They stayed some time in Derbyshire, and every day Lord Clonbrony proposed some pleasant excursion and contrived that the young people should be left to themselves,

as Mrs. Broadhurst used so strenuil, to advise, the recollection of whose authoritative maxims fortunately still operated upon Lady Clonbroni, to the great ease and advantage of the lovers. Happy as a lover, a friend, a son, happy in the consciousness of having restored a father to respectability, and persuaded a mother to quit the feverish joys of fashion for the pleasures of domestic life happy in the hope of winning the whole heart of the woman he loved and whose esteem he knew he possessed and deserved happy in developing every day every hour fresh charms in his destined bride we leave our hero returning to his native country and we leave him with the reasonable expectation that he will support through life the promise of his early character that his patriot views will extend with his power to carry wishes into action, that his attachment to his

warm-hearted countrymen will still increase upon further acquaintance, and that he will long diffuse happiness through the wide circle, which is peculiarly subject to the influence and example of a great resident Irish proprietor. Letter from Larry to his brother, Pat Brady, at Mr. Mordecai's coachman. london my dear brother yours of the twenty-sixth enclosed in the five-pound note for my father came safe to hand monday last and with his thanks and blessing to you he commends it to you herewith enclosed back again on account of his being in no immediate necessity nor likelihood to want in future as you shall hear forthwith but wants you over with all speed and the note will answer for travel in charges for we can't enjoy the look it has pleased God to give us, without yees. Put the rest in your pocket, and raid it when you've time. Old Nix gone, and St. Dennis along with him, to the place he come from, praise be to God.

The old Lord has found him out in his tricks, and I helped him to that, through the young Lord that I drive, as I informed you in my last, when he was a Welshman, which was the best turn ever I did, though I did not know it no more than Adam that time. So old next turned out of the agency clean and clear, and the day after it was known, there was surprising great joy through the whole country, not surprising either, but just what you might know and him reasonably expect. Hey, that is, Old Nick and St. Dennis, would have been burnt that night, I mean, in effigy, through the town of Clonbrony, but that the new man, Mr. Burke, come down that day too soon to stop it, and said it was not becoming to trample on the fallen,

or something that way. That put an end to it, and though it was a great disappointment to many, and to me in particular, I could not but like the gentleman the better for it anyhow. They say he is a very good gentleman, and is unlike old neck or the saint as can be, and takes no duty-fowl, nor glove, nor seal and money, nor asks duty-work, nor duty-turf. Well, when I was disappointed of the effigy, I comforted myself by making a bonfire, of old necks big wreck of duty turf which by great luck was out in the road away from all dwellin house or thatch or yards to take fire so no danger in life or objection and such another blaze i wished you'd seed it and all the men women and children in the town and country far and near gathered round it shoutin and dancing like mad and it was light as day quite across the bog as far as bartley finnigan's house and i heard after they said seen it from all parts of the three counties, and they thought it was St. John's Eve in a mistake,

or couldn't make out what it was, but all took it in good part, for a good sign, and were in great joy. As for St. Dennis, an old neck, an attorney had his foot upon him, with an Habera a latitat, and three executions hanging over them, and there's the end of rogues, and a great example in the country, and, no more about it, for I can't be wasting more ink upon them that don't deserve it at my hands, when I want it for them that do you shall see. So, some weeks passed, and there was great clean in the Clonbrony Castle and in the town of Clonbroni, and the new agent smart and clever, and hay had the glaziers and the slaters up and down in the town wherever wanted, and you wouldn't know it again.

Think, soy, this is no bad sign. Now, cock up your ears, Pat, for the great news is common and the good. the masters come home long life to him and family come home yesterday all entirely the old lord and the young lord ay there's the man paddy and my lady and miss nugent and i drove miss nugent's maid the maid that was and another so i had the luck to be in it along with him and see all from first to last and first i must tell you my young lord calambur remembered and noticed me the minute he lit him-and at our end, and condescended to beckon at me out of the yard to him, and asked me, Friend Larry, says he, did you keep your promise? My oath again whiskey, is it? says I. My lord, I surely did, says I, which was true, as all the country knows I never tasted a drop since. And I am proud to see your honour, my lord, as good as your word too, and back again among us.

So then there was a call for the horses, and no more. more at that time passed betwixt my young lord and me, but that he pointed me out to the old one as I went off. I noticed and thanked him for it in my heart, though I did not know all the good that was to come of it. Well, no more of myself for the present. Ah, you saw I driven well, and we all got to the great gate of the park before sunset, and as fine an evening as ever you see, with the sun shining on the tops of the trees, as the ladies noticed. The leaves changed, but not dropped. so late in the season. I believe the Lees knew what they were about and kept on, on purpose, to welcome them, and the birds were singing, and I stopped whistling that they might hear

them. But sorrow bit could they hear when they got to the park gate, for there was such a crowd and such a shout as you never see. And they had the horses off every carriage entirely, and drew them home with blessings through the park. And God bless them, when they got out, they didn't go shut themselves up in the great drawing-room, but went straight out to the terrace, to satisfy the eyes and hearts that followed them. My lady leaning on my young lord and Miss Grace Nugent that was the beautifulest angel that ever you set eyes on, with the finest complexion and sweetest of smiles, leaning upon the old lord's arm, who had his hat off, bowen to wall, and noticein the old tenants as he passed by name. Oh, there was great gladness and tears in

the midst, for joy I could scarce keep from myself. After a turn or two upon the terrace, my Lord Calamber quit his mother's arm for a minute, and he come to the edge of the slope, and looked down and threw all the crowd for someone. Is it the widow O'Neil, my lord, says I, she's yonder, with the spectacles on her nose, betwixt her son and daughter, as usual. Then, my lord beckoned, and they did not know which of the tree would stir, but then he gave tree beckons with his own finger, and they all tree came fast enough to the bottom of the slope for Nent, my lord, and he went down and helped the widow up.

Oh, he's the true gentleman, and brought him all three up on the terrace to my lady and Miss Nugent, and I was up close after that I might hear, which wasn't manners, but I couldn't help it. So what he said I don't well know, for I could not get near enough after all, but I saw my lady's smile, very kind, and take the widow O'Neill by the hand, and then my Lord Calamber introduced Grace to Miss Nugent, and there was the word namesake and something about it check curtains, but whatever it was, they was all greatly pleased. Then my Lord Calamber turned and looked for Brian, who had fell back, and took him with some commendation to my

lord his father. And my lord the master said, which I didn't know tell after, that they should have their house and farm at the old rent. And at the surprise, the widow dropped down dead, and there was a cry as for ten bearings. Be quiet, says I. She's only killed for joy, and I went and lift her up, for her son had no more strength that minute than the child newborn. And Grace trembled like a leaf as white as the sheet, but not long, for the mother came too, and was as well as ever when I brought some water which Miss Nugent handed to her with her own hand. That was always pretty and good,

said the widow, lay in her hand upon Miss Nugent, and kind and good to me and mine. That minute there was music from below, the blind harper O'Neill with his harp that struck up Gracie Nugent. And that finished, and my Lord Calamber smiling,

with the tears standing in his eyes too, and the old Lord quite wipe in his, I ran to the terrace-brink to bid O'Neill play it again, but as I run I thought I heard a voice call Larry. Who calls Larry, says I? My Lord Calamber calls you Larry, says all at once, and four takes me by the shoulders and spins me round.

There's my young Lord calling you, Larry, run for your life. So I run back for my life and walked, respectful, with my hat in my hand, when I got near. Put on your hat, my father desires it, said my Lord Calamber. The old Lord made a sign to that point. purpose, but was too full to speak. Where's your father? Continues, my young lord.

He's very old, my lord, says I. I didn't ask you how old he was, says he, but where is he? He's behind the crowd below, on account of his infirmities. He couldn't walk so fast as the rest, my lord, says I. But his heart is with you, if not his body?

I must have his body, too. So bring him bodily before us, and this shall be your warrant for so doin said my lord jokin for he knows the nature of us paddy and how we love a joke in our hearts as well as if he had lived all his life in ireland and by the same token will for that reason do what he plays as with us and more maybe than a man twice as good that never would smile on us but i'm telling you of my father i've a warrant for you father says i and must have you bodily before the justice and my lord chief justice so he changed colour a bit at first but he saw me smile and i've done no sin said he and larry you may lead me now as you led me all my life and up the slope he went with me as light as fifteen and when we got up my lord clonbroni said i am sorry an old tenant and a good old tenant as i hear you were should have been turned out of your farm don't fret it's no great matter my lord said my father i shall be soon out of the way but if he would be so kind to speak a word for my boy here and that i could afford while the life is enmey to bring my other boy back out of banishment then says my lord clandrony i'll give you and your son's tree lies or thirty one years from this day of your former farm return to it when you please and added my lord calamber the flaggers i hope will soon be banished

oh how could i thank him not a word could i proffer but i know i clefts my two hands and prayed for him inwardly and my father was dropping down on his knees but the master would not let him and observed that posture should only be for his god and sure enough in that posture when he was out of sight we did pray for him that night and will all our days but before we quit his presence he called me back and bid me right to my brother and bring you back if you've no objections to your own country. So come, my dear Pat, and make no delay, for joys not joy complete till you're in it. My father sends his blessing and Peggy her love. The family entirely is to settle for good in Ireland, and there was in the castle-yard last night a bonfire made by my lord's orders of the old yellow damask furniture to place my lady, my lord says, and the drawing-room, the butler was telling me, is new hung,

and the chairs with velvet as white as snow, and shaded over with natural flowers by Miss Nugent. Oh, how I hope what I guess will come true, and I've reason to believe it will, for I dreamt in my bed last night it did, but keep yourself to yourself, that Miss Nugent, who is no more Miss Nugent, they say, but Miss Reynolds, and has a new-found grandfather. and is a big heiress, which she did not want in my eyes nor in my young lords, I've a notion will be some time, and maybe sooner than is expected, my lady Viscountess Colamber, so haste to the wedding. And there's another thing.

They say the rich old grandfather's coming over. And another thing, Pat, you would not be out of the fashion, and you see, it's growing the fashion, Not to be an absentee. Your loving brother, Larry Brady. End of Chapter 17. End of the absentee by Mariah Edgeworth.